In a welcome move aimed at supporting elite athletes, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has announced the latest list of cash prizes awarded to high achievers, with Arshad Nadeem leading the list.
PSB has announced a cash prize of Rs2 million for Pakistan’s javelin sensation, in recognition of his medal-winning performance at the Asian Athletics Championship. The reward signals an encouraging step towards sustained investment in track and field, a sport that has long battled for attention in a cricket-dominated landscape.
Arshad Nadeem, who has emerged as Pakistan’s most prominent athletics star in history, continues to carry the nation’s hopes on his shoulders. In addition to his individual prize, the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) has been granted Rs10 million specifically to support his preparation and international training requirements.
PSB’s latest funding announcement also included a reward of Rs600,000 for his coach Salman Butt, who has played a pivotal role in Arshad’s growth from a promising local athlete to a globally recognised competitor.
The funding package isn’t limited to athletics or Arshad Nadeem alone. Cue sports were also recognised, with top snooker players Muhammad Asif and Ahsan Ramzan receiving Rs500,000 each, while former world champion Naseem Akhtar received Rs100,000.
Meanwhile, the PSB extended institutional support to a broad array of national federations across sports like judo, rugby, squash, table tennis, and winter sports—a clear effort to address historic funding gaps. The Alpine Club of Pakistan was awarded Rs2.1 million, and the Bodybuilding Federation received Rs2.5 million. Combat and strength-based sports like judo, ju-jitsu, karate, wrestling, and kabaddi each received between Rs1 million and Rs3 million.
For Pakistan’s sporting ecosystem, this distribution of funds comes at a critical time. With several international competitions lined up, federations have long pleaded for early financial backing to facilitate training camps and international exposure.
While Arshad Nadeem’s prize money might grab headlines, the broader takeaway is a rare, encouraging sign of long-term planning. The PSB’s allocations suggest that, at least on paper, there’s now an intention to move beyond reactive funding and towards something more structured and sustainable.
As Arshad Nadeem eyes a podium finish in future events, the hope is that timely support turns promise into sustained performance.
