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ISLAMABAD: The President of the Pakistan Paralympics Games (PPG), Tariq Mustafa, called on the government to recognize the achievements of the country’s disabled athletes and in particular honour their tremendous performance at the 2010 Asian Para Games in China.
“Neither the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) nor the government has given any regard to this team,” he said.
The Paralympic athletes bagged two gold, one silver and one bronze medal in the event.
Haider Ali, disabled by cerebral palsy, won a gold medal in long jump event at the Games and in the process also broke the Asian record with a 6.43m effort. Apart from this he went on to win a bronze in 100 metre race.
Ali's compatriot Mudassir Baig, another cerebral palsy athlete, surprised the crowds by bagging gold in the 400 metre race. Muhammad Awais landed a silver medal in javelin throw.
But apart from a reception at the Islamabad Airport upon their return from China, these athletes have largely gone unnoticed.
“We were expecting cash prizes from the PSB as well as the government, just like all the other medallists from the 16th Asian Games. However, while the squash team, hockey players and other continue to be rewarded, we remain ignored,” Mustafa said in an interview to APP while highlighting a need for equal opportunity for all sportsmen.
He demanded that a plot of land should be allotted in Islamabad to construct a Sports Training Centre dedicated to athletes with disability as soon as possible.
“We are on our own, doing everything for these athletes without any grant from the government or PSB,” Mustafa claimed.
Athletics star Haider Ali, although dismayed, reiterated that representing Pakistan remained the biggest honour for him.
“Yes, we are disappointed that compared to our able compatriots at the Asian Games, we have been completely ignored by the Prime Minister and the Sports Ministry. It hurts because we train as hard as anyone. But having said that, I would repeat that representing Pakistan is the biggest honour for me,” Ali said while speaking to Dawn.com.
The PPG president also called for the establishment of an endowment fund amounting to Rs 200 million in the Regular Income Scheme of National Savings Organisation of Government of Pakistan in the name of National Paralympics Committee (NPC) of Pakistan.
“The NPC will use the monthly profit earned from the scheme for development of Paralympic Movement in Pakistan, hosting national games, sports championships, and training of athletes with disability and their participation in regional and international sports events and to conduct all other relevant activities regularly.”
He said at present, due to scarcity of funds, NPC organises its activities on event basis but reitereated the need for regular sports activities for persons with disability.
“This has become essential now since we have to aim for Pakistan's success at 2012 London Paralympic Games.”
He appealed to the Prime Minister to give special care to the medal winners of Asian Para Games as had been done in the case of medal winners of 2010 Asian Games.
“The amount of cash awards may be equal to prize amount already conferred upon the gold, silver and bronze medal winners of the Asian Games 2010,” he concluded.
However when contacted, PSB spokesman, Faik Ali Chachar, he said that the Paralympics athletes come under the Ministry of Social Welfare and it is their duty to reward them with cash prizes.
