Muhammad Shoaib receives cash prize, standing ovation as officials lament crumbling sports infrastructure
PESHAWAR:
A hero’s welcome unfolded at the Peshawar Sports Complex on Wednesday as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Tennis Association honoured Muhammad Shoaib, the province’s young tennis sensation who has ended Pakistan’s 25-year wait for an ITF International title.
The 18-year-old was greeted with flower garlands and thunderous applause as former Provincial Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah and Director General Sports Tashfeen Haider graced the ceremony as chief guests. Officials from across the sporting and administrative spectrum, including Olympic Association President Haroon Zafar and Vice President Umar Ayaz Khalil, joined the celebrations.
In recognition of his historic achievement, K-P Tennis Association President DIG Saleem Marwat presented Shoaib with a cash award of Rs50,000.
Addressing the gathering, Syed Aqil Shah hailed the victory as a landmark moment for both Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan. “After 25 years, a Pakistani tennis player has won an ITF title,” he said. “This reflects the immense talent in our province, especially given that Shoaib succeeded with limited resources and inadequate facilities.”
However, the former minister swiftly turned his attention to what he described as a crisis in provincial sports infrastructure. He expressed serious concern over the dilapidated state of the Peshawar Sports Complex, pointing to torn nets, deteriorating courts, and the absence of basic amenities such as an electronic scoreboard.
“Despite major development claims, ground realities tell a different story,” he said.
He further noted that had Shoaib achieved the same feat in another province, he would have received substantial financial rewards and government backing. “In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, athletes lack proper encouragement and a systematic talent-hunt mechanism.”
The ceremony concluded with a promise: Shoaib will soon depart for the United States to participate in a coaching and training programme.
Attendees extended their best wishes and called on the government to urgently rehabilitate provincial sports facilities.