The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has announced a total cash prize of Rs8.2 million for the country’s U-16 men’s volleyball team, which won the gold medal at the Asian U-16 Volleyball Championship in Thailand. The team’s historic victory was a thrilling 3-2 win over Iran in the final, with the young Pakistani players remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament. The cash prize is part of the PSB’s 2024 Cash Award Policy for annual continental team events, which aims to incentivize youth sports and promote a culture of excellence from the grassroots level.
Under the policy, each of the 12 players in the squad will receive Rs600,000, totaling Rs7.2 million. This amount is 30% of the standard individual award for a gold-medal performance at the continental level. In addition, the coaching staff will receive an extra Rs1 million, which is 50% of the total player award in team events. The overall reward of Rs8.2 million demonstrates the PSB’s commitment to recognizing and financially supporting sporting excellence across all age groups.
The Pakistan U-16 team’s victory has made headlines and earned praise for their resilience, skill, and team spirit. The cash awards will be disbursed within a few days, pending completion of necessary documentation, and will be deposited directly into the accounts of players and coaches listed on the official tournament roster submitted to the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC).
The PSB spokesperson, Khurram Shahzad, stated that the cash awards are part of an ongoing initiative to recognize and financially support sporting excellence. The board’s efforts aim to promote a culture of excellence in sports, starting from the grassroots level. The reward is a significant recognition of the team’s achievement and a motivation for young athletes to pursue their passion for sports. The PSB’s commitment to supporting youth sports is expected to have a positive impact on the development of sports in Pakistan and inspire future generations of athletes.