Yasir Sultan, Pakistan's national javelin champion, has expressed his frustration, revealing that promises made to him by the government after his win have yet to be fulfilled.
While expressing happiness over fellow athlete Arshad Nadeem's international success, Yasir stated during a press conference in Lahore, "I am proud that Arshad Nadeem has made the country's name known worldwide. His achievements are a source of inspiration for all of us."
He said he was the current national champion, who won a bronze medal in June 2023 in the Asian Athletics Championship. However, the national javelin thrower voiced his disappointment over unkept commitments made by the government following his own success.
"The prime minister had announced Rs5 million as a reward for winning the bronze medal in the Asian Athletics Championship, but I have not received the money yet," Yasir lamented.
He added that despite repeated attempts to follow up on the reward, there has been no response from the authorities.
Yasir also shared his regret about the lack of support and competitive opportunities, saying, "It is a pity that I have not been given any competitions to participate in." Despite his accolades and national standing, the athlete feels sidelined, with no clear pathway for further development or participation in international events.
During the press conference, Yasir revealed that he had received offers to represent other countries in javelin competitions. "I have offers to play for many countries," Yasir stated.
The national javelin thrower called on the government and sports authorities to honour their promises and provide the necessary support to help athletes like him continue to represent Pakistan on the global stage.
The Pakistani javelin thrower secured his bronze at the Asian Athletics Championship held in Bangkok, Thailand last year, marking the country's first and only medal in the event. Yasir achieved a throw of 79.93 meters, falling more than 10 meters short of Arshad Nadeem's personal best at the time, as the top thrower missed the competition due to injury.
The gold medal went to Japan's Roderick Genki Dean, who achieved a throw of 83.15 meters, while India's DP Manu claimed silver with a distance of 81.01 meters.
This medal is Pakistan's first in the Asian Athletics Championship since 1991, when the country last made it to the podium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Yasir's performance placed Pakistan 17th on the medal table out of 42 participating nations.
