TIMES REPORT
PESHAWAR: Medal-winning athletes from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who excelled in the National Games 2026 were honored with cash awards at a prestigious ceremony held at the Peshawar Sports Complex.
Advisor to the Chief Minister on Sports and Youth Affairs Taj Muhammad Tarand distributed more than Rs 26 million among the athletes. The ceremony was attended by senior officials of the sports department and various sports associations.
During the event, the Under-21 Games trophy was handed over to Regional Sports Officer Kashif Farhan as Peshawar Region emerged victorious.
Cash prizes were awarded as follows: Rs 600,000 for gold medalists, Rs 400,000 for silver medalists, and Rs 300,000 for bronze medalists.
Speaking on the occasion, Taj Muhammad Tarand congratulated the athletes, calling them “heroes of the province.” He said the provincial government had doubled the initially announced prize money in recognition of their achievements. He also announced Rs 100,000 each for coaches.
He added that the government is actively promoting sports under the vision of Imran Khan, with several development projects, including swimming pools, included in the Annual Development Programme (ADP). Efforts are also underway to ensure sports facilities in all districts of the province.
He further announced that a National Junior Championship will be held after Eid, along with other major sporting events next year. An agreement with JazzCash was also highlighted to ensure transparent and efficient distribution of prize money.
Among the gold medalists were Hijab Ajmal (sailing), Syed Faisal Shah (judo), Shahid Khan (bodybuilding), Murad Khan (karate), and Fahad Khawaja and Usman Khalil (table tennis).
Silver and bronze medalists across multiple disciplines, including kabaddi, taekwondo, boxing, badminton, wushu, golf, and tennis, were also awarded. Coaches Kamran Ali, Hidayatullah Khalil, Zulfiqar Butt, and Akram were likewise recognized.
The ceremony also acknowledged players of the Pak-Afghan T20 Wheelchair Cricket Series-winning team, who were awarded cash prizes for their outstanding performance.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from the provincial government to continue supporting athletes and promoting sports across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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