The Punjab government has announced cash prizes worth one million rupees each for javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, weightlifter Talha Talib and mountaineer Shehroz Kashif as their recent celestial performances representing their country, Pakistan.

While addressing a press conference, Punjab Sports Minister Rai Taimur Khan Bhatti said Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar will hand the cash prizes to all the three athletes.

“Arshad Nadeem is the first Pakistani track and field athlete who directly qualified [for Olympics],” said Rai Taimur Khan Bhatti.

He added, “Arshad Nadeem and Talha Talib both made Pakistan famous.”

The sports minister said he will go to the airport to receive Arshad Nadeem.

Olympians Arshad Nadeem and Talha Talib will be given with Rs1 million each, he said, adding Arshad Nadeem’s coach Fayyaz Bukhari will also be given a Rs 0.5 million reward.

The Punjab government is also supporting Haider Ali and Anila Baig, who qualified for the Paralympics.

The provincial government will bear all the expenses of both the Paralympic athletes, he added.

Arshad Nadeem is the first-ever Pakistani athlete to qualify for the final in the Tokyo Olympics. He finished fifth in the final competition of javelin throw.

Nadeem’s ranking soared to fourth on the points table at one point in the competition but he was soon surpassed by rival athletes.

Whereas, lifter Talha Talib had also gained accolades from all quarters, competing in the 67kg men’s weightlifting contest in the Tokyo Olympics.

Talha was on top for a while before being surpassed by athletes from China, Colombia, and Italy in the final attempts. After lifting 150kg in the snatch lift, Talha fell while attempting 166kg in the first attempt at the clean and jerk move.

He lifted 170kg in his final attempt to have an overall lift of 320kg.

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