Asian Bench Press Champions honoured at National Hockey Stadium

Lahore: Director General Sports Punjab Usman Anwar said Pakistan powerlifting team that clinched seven medals including four gold medals in 2015 Asian Bench Press Championships in Muscat, Oman, will be a major force at international level in the near future; he was talking to media at a ceremony arranged in honour of victorious Pakistan powerlifting team at National Hockey Stadium on Thursday.

DG SBP also awarded souvenirs to all members of national powerlifting team. Pakistan powerlifting team was comprised of Twinkle Sohail (gold medal in 47kg class), Sonia Azmat (gold in 63kg), Shazia Butt (gold in open-weight event), Rashed Malik (gold in 105kg category), Mahmood Heera (silver in 120kg), Nadeem Hashmi (bronze in 105kg) and Sohail Butt (bronze in 93kg).

DG SBP lauded the amazing performance of national powerlifting team saying that the presence of such talented players is definitely a big boost for Pakistan. “Pakistan has immense potential in every field. The way our youngsters are doing hard work, we can expect that our sports future will be very bright in the coming years,” he added.

To a question, Usman said that the three editions of Punjab Youth Festival (PYF) played key role in preparing Pakistan’s world class powerlifters. “The grand event of Punjab Youth Festival gave Pakistan several top class athletes in various fields,” he continued.

DG SBP further said that talented players will be sent abroad for international training. “We will also invite foreign coaches who will impart modern training to our players. Govt of Punjab will confer every possible facility to national heroes,” he vowed.

Answering another query, DG SBP said: “Sports Board Punjab is also spreading a network of modern training facilities in the shape of gymnasiums across the province. Pakistan will get several top class athletes through these modern training facilities in future,” he maintained.