LAHORE, October 28, 2026: Athletes from the CM Punjab Laser Run Academy have won 11 medals at the Global Laser Run competitions in Thailand, securing the first international success for the CM Punjab Sports Academies.
Punjab Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar announced cash prizes for the medal winners and their inclusion in the Punjab Sports Endowment Fund during a ceremony organised by Sports Board Punjab at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.
Under the announced rewards, each gold medalist will receive Rs200,000, while silver and bronze medal winners will be awarded Rs150,000 and Rs100,000, respectively.
The ceremony was attended by Sports Board Punjab Vice Chairman Salman Malik, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, Deputy Director Zahoor Ahmed and other officials.
Sports minister announces cash rewards
Addressing the ceremony, Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar congratulated the athletes, coaches and officials on their performance at the international competition.
He described the achievement as an important milestone for the CM Punjab Sports Academies, saying the athletes had brought recognition to Pakistan through their success in Thailand.
The minister announced that the medal-winning athletes would be enrolled in the Punjab Sports Endowment Fund to provide them with additional support for their sporting careers.
He said the cash awards were intended to recognise their achievements and encourage young athletes to pursue excellence in competitive sports.
According to the minister, the academies were playing an important role in identifying emerging talent and providing athletes with opportunities to develop their skills and compete internationally.
First international success for Punjab sports academies
Khokhar termed the 11-medal performance a significant achievement for Punjab’s sports development programme.
He said the success demonstrated the potential of young athletes when provided with appropriate training, coaching and competitive opportunities.
The minister expressed confidence that continued investment in sports academies would help develop more athletes capable of representing Pakistan at international competitions.
He also appreciated the efforts of coaches and academy officials in preparing the athletes for the Global Laser Run event.
Medal-winning athletes honoured
Among the athletes recognised during the ceremony were M Azaan, Abdullah, M Shayan, Umais Saleemi, Mubashir Ali, Qaiser Ali, Syedan Shahood and Rizwan.
The athletes shared their experiences of competing in Thailand and participating in an international sporting event.
They also posed for group photographs with the provincial sports minister and Sports Board Punjab officials.
The ceremony concluded with recognition of the athletes’ achievements and a commitment from the provincial sports authorities to continue supporting emerging talent through training programmes, financial assistance and international exposure.
The 11-medal performance marks the first international achievement of the CM Punjab Sports Academies and represents a positive development for the province’s efforts to promote competitive sports.