PM distributes cash prizes to Pakistan hockey team

Pakistan hockey team, runners up of the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament, was rewarded at the Prime Minister House on Thursday, where they received the cash prizes.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Ministers – Ahsan Iqbal and Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan hockey greats Samiullah Khan, Islahuddin Shehbaz senior and others graced the ceremony in the federal Islamabad.

Pakistan lost to Japan 4-1 on a penalty shootout after the match ended 2-2 in the normal time.

As announced, the Premier distributed the prize of Rs1 million to each player of the hockey team. Apart from that, he also handed a Rs1 million cheque to javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem.

Kashmala Talat and her team, who qualified for the rifle shooting event at the Paris Olympics, were also rewarded with a Rs1 million as well. Usman Khan, who will be participating in the equestrian event in the Olympics was given £25,000.

PM Shehbaz in his address congratulated the entire hockey team and the staff for their remarkable achievement.

“Today, I’m not the chief guest, the Pakistan hockey team and the players are,” he started his address. “You were not defeated, you are the winners because of the fact that the way nation celebrated and the position we were in the world hockey. It was something remarkable.”

It is worth mentioning here that the final had to be decided on a shootout after both teams scored two goals apiece at the end of full time.

Japan staged a comeback to level the score 2-2 after Pakistan scored two goals in the third quarter. Kazumasa Matsumoto produced a second goal in the 47th minute.