ISLAMABAD: A day after making fervent appeal for monetary assistance, boxing champion Mohammad Waseem has been ‘assured’ of financial support by federal minister for Inter-provincial Coordination, Riaz Hussain Pirzada.

The minister, who also oversees country’s sports sector, held a meeting with the boxer, who on Monday lamented over being meted out step-motherly treatment from various quarters despite winning the World Boxing Council (WBC) silver flyweight title.

“The minister assured me that PSB will give me Rs3 million to train for the upcoming title bout against Nicaragua’s [professional boxer] Roman Gonzelez,” Waseem said before adding that the amount was very little to meet expenses of his preparations and related expenditure.

“But at least something is better than nothing,” Waseem said. “The minister assured me that he would move a summary to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and after getting formal approval, the amount will be handed over to me soon since I have to leave on Aug 21 for Las Vegas.”

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2016