Lahore: The Bilquis and Abdul Razak Dawood Foundation (BARD) has onboarded 13 emerging athletes from across Pakistan under its Athlete Training and Development Programme, an initiative designed to identify, nurture, and prepare promising sports talent to represent Pakistan at national and international levels.
The programme is designed to support talented athletes through a structured, athlete-centred development model, enabling them to progress safely and sustainably from grassroots to elite competition. BARD’s approach integrates high-performance training, access to professional coaching with expert consultants such as Mr. Salman Butt, nutrition, mental preparedness, and competition exposure, ensuring athletes are equipped to compete at national and international levels.
The cohort includes squash players Muhammad Mustafa (U13), Sohail Adnan (U15), Huzaifa Shahid (U15), Abdul Ahad Butt (U17), Muhammad Umair Arif (U17), Abdullah Nadeem Butt (U19), Kaleem Ullah Shoaib (Senior), Anas Ali Shah (Senior), Muhammad Ahmed (Senior), and Damya Khan (U15). Additionally, Saim Masih, Usama Hassan, and Faiqa Riaz have been inducted under the athletes’ development category, reinforcing BARD’s commitment to inclusive access and talent identification across regions and backgrounds.
Speaking at the onboarding ceremony, Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood, President of BARD Foundation, said,
“When we established the BARD Foundation, our objective was not only to support talented athletes, but to build a system that prioritizes long-term development, dignity, and opportunity. Sport has the power to shape confident individuals and responsible citizens. Through this programme, we aim to create clear pathways for athletes to grow, perform, and represent Pakistan with pride on the international stage.”
BARD Foundation is actively collaborating with national and international partners, including coaches, academies, and performance specialists, to ensure athletes receive quality guidance aligned with global standards. The programme places strong emphasis on athlete well-being, safeguarding, personal development, and education alongside competitive success, recognizing that sustainable excellence in sport requires holistic support.
By investing in structured development pathways and ethical, impact-driven sports programming, BARD seeks to contribute to a stronger, more equitable sports ecosystem in Pakistan, where talent is nurtured responsibly and athletes are empowered both on and off the field.
