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                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>Special Olympics Summer Games 2011: Pakistan come back bearing 56 medals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/202262/special-olympics-summer-games-2011-pakistan-come-back-bearing-56-medals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/202262/special-olympics-summer-games-2011-pakistan-come-back-bearing-56-medals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 04 Jul 11 19:54:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[natasha.raheel]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Squad returns today with 17 gold, 25 silver and 14 bronze medals.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Pakistan squad comes bearing 56 medals as they return to the country today after a successful run at the recently-concluded Special Olympics Summer Games 2011 in Athens, Greece.


Pakistan bagged 17 gold medals, 25 silver and 14 bronze medals while competing in a week-long event that featured 7,500 athletes from 180 countries around the world.

The 82-member contingent participated in eight sports including athletics, aquatics, badminton, basketball, bocce, cycling, football and table tennis.

According to the delegation head Ronak Lakhani, while it was important that the country managed to secure 56 medals, however, the Special Olympics of Pakistan’s aim was to encourage all athletes and ensure that every member of the squad was treated like a winner.

During the competitive week at the Games, some athletes made a bigger mark than others. Adeel Ameer, an 18-year-old came out victorious in the 100-metre run, high-jump and 4x100 metre events to become the most successful athlete in the squad, grabbing the top positions in the three events that he participated in.

Meanwhile, 11-year old Bakhtawar Gul secured two gold medals in the 100-metre run and long jump-events and a silver medal in the 4x100-metre relay race.

The Games, however, were not free of setbacks. Rahimullah Baig had to face a disqualification in the 800-metre run, but the 17-year-old spirited athlete never gave up hope and managed to win a silver medal in the 1500-metre run and bagged a gold medal in the 4x100-metre relay race with Ameer, Tahir Siddique and Sakhawat Ali, who also won silver medals in shot-put and the 200-metre individual race.

“Athletics team won the most medals for Pakistan,” coach Javad Arshad told The Express Tribune. “All my athletes have improved because of the strong domestic structure that we have in place to train them.

“We had been preparing these athletes for the last two years in their cities, while we began the camp for the Olympic Games four months prior to the event. It has paid off well.”

Meanwhile, Husnain Abbas Zaidi won a silver medal in the 25-metre backstroke and 25-metre freestyle events, whereas Ahsan Ali won Bronze medal in 25-metre freestyle.

Cyclist Sana Javed bagged a gold medal in the five-kilometre race and silver in 1000-metre event. Billawal Aslam secured one gold and two bronze medals despite a prior shoulder injury.

In the team sports, Pakistan men and women basketball teams won silver medals, while Suhail Khan and Rabia Saeed won badminton singles titles. Similarly, Mehwish Iftikhar and Arsalan Ahmed won table tennis singles events in their respective categories.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2011.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly cited Amir Munawar as winning silver medals in the swimming events.]]>
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			<title>Special Olympics Summer Games 2011: Pakistan richer by nine medals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/201710/special-olympics-summer-games-2011-pakistan-richer-by-nine-medals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/201710/special-olympics-summer-games-2011-pakistan-richer-by-nine-medals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 03 Jul 11 19:11:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[natasha.raheel]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=201710</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Clinch gold in 100-metre race, bocce event on day seven.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan’s medal bag keeps getting heavier at the Special Olympics Summer Games 2011 after the country’s athletes bagged nine more medals on day seven of the event underway in Athens, Greece.


Adeel Ameer won a gold medal in the 100-metre race while Abdul Nasir and Zulfiqar Ali paired up to win the bocce men’s doubles event.

Rahimullah Baig, who was disqualified from the 800-metre race earlier, hit back to finish in second place in the 1500-metre run to bag a silver medal for Pakistan. He covered the distance in four minutes and 50.35 seconds behind Tanzania’s Emmanuel G Mwakyelu (four minutes and 47.14 seconds) while Portugal’s Angelo Miguel Pais secured a bronze medal after clocking a time of four minutes and 57.28 minutes.

“We are very proud of Baig,” athletics coach Javad Arshad told The Express Tribune. “Any other athlete in his place would have been very discouraged.

“But he was determined to win a medal. He told me that he wouldn’t want to return home without a medal.”

Meanwhile, Misbah Tariq grabbed a silver medal in the 200-metre race as she covered the distance in 36.24 seconds finishing behind Hong Kong’s Choi Yuk Tse (35.29 seconds). Bahrain’s Nayla H Alaathem finished third in the event with a time of 37.43 seconds.

Similarly, Sikhawat Ali won silver in the long-jump event when he recorded a distance of 4.85 metres. Bangladesh’s Ripon Ahmed bagged the gold medal (4.88 metres) while Niger’s Laouali Amadou finshed at third place (4.77 metres).

Usama Riaz and Arsalan Ahmed won the silver medal in the table tennis men’s doubles event while the men’s basketball team also finished second after suffering a 31-12 loss against India in the final. They had defeated Turkey to reach the final.

Suhail Ahmed Khan and Quratulain won bronze medals in the mixed doubles badminton event and the Pakistan swimming team finished third in the 4x25 freestyle relay event as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Special Olympics Summer Games 2011: A medal shower for Pakistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/201163/special-olympics-summer-games-2011-a-medal-shower-for-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/201163/special-olympics-summer-games-2011-a-medal-shower-for-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 02 Jul 11 19:43:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[natasha.raheel]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=201163</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Nine medals won on day six of event.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan’s campaign at the Special Olympics Summer Games 2011 keeps getting better and better as they bagged nine more medals at the end of day six of the event in Athens, Greece.


Bakhtawar Gul claimed a gold medal while Ayesha Iftikhar ended with a bronze in the long jump event while the men’s team secured first place in the 400x100 relay event and the female athletes claimed a silver medal.

Suhail Ahmed Khan clinched the men’s singles badminton title and Arsalan Ahmed won a gold medal in the men’s singles table tennis competition. Pakistan women’s basketball team bagged a silver medal after losing the final to Turkey 17-13.

Meanwhile, 11-year-old Gul recorded a distance of 3.20 metres in the long jump event to finish first on the podium ahead of Indonesia’s Prisma S.Anisya and compatrriot Iftikhar. The athlete has now won two gold and two silver medals in the previous two days.

Meanwhile, Khan won the badminton final against Indonesia’s Alex Wiranata 2-1 in a close match. Earlier, Rabia Saeed had also won the women’s singles event to bag another gold for Pakistan.

Similarly Ahmed defeated Iran’s Javad Abbasiantabar 2-1 to clinch the table tennis title, while Maria won bronze in the women’s singles event yesterday.

Meanwhile, swimmers Syed Ahsan Ali and Amir Husain won bronze medals in the 25-metre freestyle event.

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Special Olympics Summer Games 2011: Day five: Pakistan reach  impressive heights</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/200451/special-olympics-summer-games-2011-day-five-pakistan-reach-impressive-heights</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/200451/special-olympics-summer-games-2011-day-five-pakistan-reach-impressive-heights#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jul 11 19:53:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[natasha.raheel]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=200451</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Four gold, two silver and two bronze medals bagged.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan athletes reached unprecedented heights on an impressive fifth day of the Special Olympics Summer Games 2011 in Athens when Bakhtawar Gul and Ayesha Iftikhar bagged the top two positions at the girls’ 100-metre race, while Adeel Ameer secured a gold medal in the high jump event and Ali Sakhawat grabbed a silver medal in the men’s 200-metre race.


Rabia Saeed won the badminton women’s singles title and Mehwish Iftikhar won gold in the women’s singles table tennis event.

Eleven-year-old Gul covered the distance in 17.37 seconds while nine-year-old Ayesha followed her squad-member to bag a silver medal with 17.90 seconds to finish second. The athletes outran five other competitors in their division, as Bahrain’s Nayla H Aalathem came third with 18.12 seconds.

Meanwhile, Ameer won the gold medal in the high jump event when he covered 1.35 metres to outplay Switzerland’s Alfio Lorenzetti (1.25 metres), and Argentina’s Dario machuca (1.20 metres).

Similarly, 22-year-old Sakhawat Ali won the silver medal when he covered the distance of 200-metres in 25.53 seconds, losing the first place to China’s Bayaer Haosi with the difference of 11 seconds. Jmaica’s Owen Reitchie finished third with 25.72 seconds on the clock.

“We had an exciting day here with a lot of celebration and a major disappointment as well,” athletics coach Javad Arshad told The Express Tribune.

“Rahimullah Baig had almost won a silver medal in the 800-metre race today, but he got disqualified. We couldn’t believe it. The officials said that he entered into the race from a wrong position and ran before the signal.”

On the other hand, Saeed defeated South Korea’s Han Ui Lim 2-0 in the women’s badminton singles final. She had outplayed Netherlands’ Celine van Parijs 2-0 and China’s Chenxue 2-1 earlier in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, cyclists Billawal Aslam and Mohammad Nazeer Ahmed grabbed bronze medals in the five-kilometre men’s time trial event.

Aslam covered the distance in nine minutes and 5.62 seconds outrunning seven other competitors, losing to Colombia’s Carlos Gonzales (eight minutes and 39.89 seconds) and Greece’s Panagiotis Kontos (nine minutes and 4.84 seconds). Ahmed finished third in his division with 10 minutes and 17.69 seconds.

Meanwhile, the women’s basketball team continued with their winning streak when they defeated the UAE 31-10 in the semi-final.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Special Olympics Day four: Pakistan bag gold, silver medals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/199844/special-olympics-day-four-pakistan-bag-gold-silver-medals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/199844/special-olympics-day-four-pakistan-bag-gold-silver-medals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 11 20:47:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[natasha.raheel]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=199844</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Athletes win in bocce, swimming, shotput events.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan’s medal count increased on the fourth day of the Special Olympics Summer Games 2011 when Shumail Rubab bagged a gold at the women’s singles bocce event, Husnain Abbas Zaidi secured silver in the men’s 25-metre backstroke competition and Tahir Siddique ended as runner-up in the shotput event.


Rubab won gold when she outplayed eight other athletes and finished ahead of Mexico’s Maria Jose Arce at the Games underway in Athens, Greece. Zaidi, who took 23.09 seconds to cover 25 metres, lost the first place to Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah AlShahrani. The hosts’ Konstantinos Garofalakis claimed bronze after he finished third.

In the shotput event, 17-year-old Siddique outplayed six other athletes in the four-kilogram shotput and recorded a distance of 7.45 metres. He lost the first place to South Africa’s Steven Gumede.

Meanwhile, Shaullah Asad will compete in the 50-metre freestyle event while Pakistan’s torch-bearer Farah Vohra has also qualified for the 25-metre freestyle event when she claimed first place in the preliminaries yesterday.

“The swimmers are very excited now,” Pakistan swimming coach Veena Masud told The Express Tribune. “After the cyclists, it’s the swimmers’ turn to win some medals.”

The women’s basketball team also recorded a 19-4 win against UAE while the Pakistan football team tasted defeat against Germany 2-1 and languishes at the bottom of the group.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Special Olympics Summer Games 2011, day three: Pakistan shine with golden glory</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/198755/special-olympics-summer-games-2011-day-three-pakistan-shine-with-golden-glory</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/198755/special-olympics-summer-games-2011-day-three-pakistan-shine-with-golden-glory#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 11 18:45:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[natasha.raheel]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=198755</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Cyclists continue impressive run, bag gold and bronze medals.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan cyclists continued their impressive form on the third day of the Special Olympics Summer Games 2011 underway in Athens, Greece when Sana Javed bagged a gold medal in the five-kilometre (km) time-trial event while Billawal Aslam bagged bronze in the 10-km road race.


Fourteen-year-old Javed covered the distance in 14 minutes and 2.90 seconds to secure the first position as she outran India’s A Marymanda, with a difference of one minute and 10 seconds.

Javed clinched her second medal at the Games, having previously bagged a silver in the 1000-metre time-trial event.

“I’m so happy with this extra-ordinary achievement,” Javed told The Express Tribune.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Aslam bagged the bronze medal as he covered the distance in 19 minutes and 7.53 seconds, being two minutes and five seconds slower than Germany’s Christian Zinserling. Colombia’s Carlos Morales secured the second place in the event.

“I’m very proud of our cyclists, they’ve proved that they have more spirit than the athletes with normal intellectual ability,” said cycling coach Ishrat Zehra.

“Both Javed and Aslam have two medals each and they’re beaming with confidence.”

Meanwhile the men’s basketball team defeated Uruguay 24-6 in a one-sided encounter. Similarly, the women’s team maintained their winning streak when they outplayed Turkey 13-7 in the qualifying matches.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Special Olympics Summer Games 2011, day two: Pakistan’s medal bag gets heavier</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/198142/pakistan-wins-3-more-medals-in-the-special-olympics</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/198142/pakistan-wins-3-more-medals-in-the-special-olympics#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 11 15:53:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[natasha.raheel]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=198142</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Two silver, one bronze won in cycling, bocce events.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan extended their impressive form on day two of the Special Olympics Summer Games 2011 underway in Athens, Greece when cyclists Fajar Zaheer and Sana Javed bagged silver medals in the 1000-metre races while the bocce team bagged the bronze medal.


Twelve-year-old Zaheer secured the silver medal in her division when she covered the distance in two minutes and 45.20 seconds, losing the first position to Czech Republic’s Denisa Kmentova, who bagged the gold medal with two minutes and 17.34 seconds, while Costa Rica’s Maricruz Marin finished third.

Meanwhile, 14-year-old Javed also bagged second place in the 1000-metre race in division F02. She covered the distance in three minutes and 0.86 seconds, while Mexico’s Julissa Colorado took the first position and India’s Samriti Sethi secured third place with a difference of 18 seconds.

Zaheer and Javed will now participate in the five-kilometre (km) time-trial event, while gold medallist Billawal Aslam will compete in the 10-km road race today.

“Our cyclists are doing very well and I believe that Aslam’s gold medal has motivated others as well,” coach Ishrat Zehra told The Express Tribune.

“ Zaheer and Javed had confidence issues in the beginning but they performed very well.”

Meanwhile, on the men’s basketball front, Pakistan defeated Nigeria 34-7 after losing their first match to Indonesia.

Pakistan’s bocce team also won the bronze medal after losing to Faroe Islands 120-40 in the semi-final.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Special Olympics Summer Games 2011: Day one, Pakistan’s first gold medal in the bag</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/197520/special-olympics-summer-games-2011-day-one-pakistan%e2%80%99s-first-gold-medal-in-the-bag</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/197520/special-olympics-summer-games-2011-day-one-pakistan%e2%80%99s-first-gold-medal-in-the-bag#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 11 19:40:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[natasha.raheel]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Team emerges victorious in cycling, basketball events.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan started their campaign at the Special Olympics Summer Games 2011 impressively when 17-year-old Billawal Aslam bagged the first gold medal for the country in the 1000-metre (m) men’s cycling event. Pakistan women’s basketball team also emerged as the winners after defeating Israel 14-13 in a close encounter in Athens.


Aslam outran five other competitors and covered the distance in two minutes and 14.14 seconds to secure first place, while Muhammad Nazeer Ahmed finished at fourth place, covering 1000m in two minutes and 23.21 seconds.

Aslam, who picked up a shoulder injury during a practice session, will participate in the 10-kilometre road race event tomorrow

“Winning a gold medal after an injury shows that Aslam is an amazing athlete,” coach Ishrat Zehra told The Express Tribune. “I have been training him for two months and I can say that he has star quality.”

Aslam won the race with a difference of 56 seconds ahead of Mexico’s Johnny Tovar and India’s Yogendra Kumar Shrivas.

“Now that we have received our first gold medal, we are looking to bag more,” said delegation head Ronak Lakhani.

Women’s team impresses

Meanwhile, the women’s team held their own in the first match of the basketball event when they led the match against Israel 6-1 at interval.

However, they faced resistance from their opponents in the second half but ultimately sealed the victory 14-13. They will now take on Kazakhstan in the next match in the preliminary rounds.

However, the men’s basketball team lost to Indonesia 17-7 in a one-sided encounter during the preliminarily rounds.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Special Olympics 2011: Vohra lights up the torch, boosts squad morale</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/196538/special-olympics-2011-vohra-lights-up-the-torch-boosts-squad-morale</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/196538/special-olympics-2011-vohra-lights-up-the-torch-boosts-squad-morale#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 11 05:48:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[natasha.raheel]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=196538</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Swimmer stands third in line to light the torch at the opening ceremony.]]>
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				<![CDATA[From a Pakistani contingent of 82 members at the Special Olympics World Games 2011, all eyes were fixed on the 18-year-old swimmer Farah Vohra — as she stepped third in line at the podium to light the torch at the opening ceremony.


Pakistani Vohra’s selection as the torch-bearer at the Games in Athens has boosted the contingent’s confidence ahead of the competition that will start from tomorrow [Monday].

As Vohra lit the Olympic torch on Saturday at the opening ceremony of the Games – that will be held from June 25 to July 4 in the Greek capital – the Pakistani squad stared in excitement. “It’s a confidence boost not only for Farah, but for the whole squad,” delegation head Ronak Lakhani told The Express Tribune.

“It is an honour for the country, but also an incredible moment for the athletes. They saw Farah light the torch as one of their own representing the Asia-Pacific region at the podium…she was the third person in line to light the torch. It is motivating other athletes to perform as well.”

The swimmer was chosen by the Special Olympics of Pakistan to be the torch-bearer not just because she has excelled in the sport but also for her growth as an individual.

The young swimmer was born with Down’s Syndrome in Karachi. She is the only female swimmer representing Pakistan in the 25-metre backstroke and 25-metre freestyle at the Games, but according to Lakhani over the past six years, she has overcome her disability and learnt to communicate in English and Urdu while swimming at the Karachi Club. “I am very excited, it was my dream to be an Olympian,” Farah had told The Express Tribune before leaving for Athens. “I have been practicing for the Games for four hours every day, five days a week. I just love to swim.”

According to the spokesperson for the Special Olympics of Pakistan, the squad will undergo preliminary rounds today.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Special Olympics: Shock rejection for five members of Pakistan Special Olympics delegation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/191924/special-olympics-shock-rejection-for-five-members-of-pakistan-special-olympics-delegation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/191924/special-olympics-shock-rejection-for-five-members-of-pakistan-special-olympics-delegation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 19 Jun 11 05:08:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=191924</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Two athletes, three others denied visas; decision being appealed.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.


The motto of the Special Olympics is an outright call to allow people who are differently-abled to participate and prove their ability to overcome stereotypes and achieve. Our Special Olympians have in the past, not only participated, but have won with greater regularity than our ‘regular’ Olympians.

However, the Greek Embassy’s rejection of the visa applications of two athletes from Pakistan’s Special Olympics delegation for Athens 2011 has denied them a chance to brave the attempt. With the team scheduled to fly out on the 20th, it seems unlikely that appeals will be processed in time.

The Special Olympics Summer World Games scheduled to run from June 25-July 4 will feature some 7,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities from over 185 nations compete in 22 sports. The games will use about 3,000 technical officials and 25,000 volunteers.

Pakistan’s Special Olympics athletes will participate in eight event categories including athletics, aquatics, badminton, basketball, bocce, cycling, football and table tennis.

The two athletes whose visas were rejected are Muhammad Asif Khan and Ayaz Ahmed. The other three whose visas were rejected are Global Youth Activation Summit (GYAS) participants Saba Ilyas, a special person who also won a bronze at the last games, and Sarah Alam, along with Syed Nofil Naqvi, a cameraman who was supposed to file reports for Pakistani television channels from Athens.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Head of Delegation Nasim Ahmed said that of the 78 passports submitted to the Greek Embassy, only these five passports came back without visas. They were told that the visas were automatically rejected by the computerised visa processing system.

Special Olympics Pakistan has participated in six Special Olympics World Games since 1991, and this is the first time ever they have had to face a visa rejection. Some of the Pakistani athletes participating in the event have trained for more than five years, and now two of them might be denied the chance to proudly strut out in their green uniforms and shine.

In 2007 in Shanghai, China, the Special Olympics team won 15 gold medals, 20 silver medals and 16 bronze medals. Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP) had high hopes for these world games too.

In contrast, Pakistan has won only 10 medals including three golds, all three in hockey, in 15 Summer Olympics.

The SOP office, while respecting the Greek Embassy’s security and immigration concerns, expressed deep disappointment with the decision.

The Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families and other Special Olympics athletes.

Athletics Federation of Pakistan President Major General (retd) Muhammad Akram Sahi called it “a very sad incident.”

“We are not being treated as sovereign country across the world because we have no respect,” he added, hinting at non-sporting factors as having played a part in the decision. He suggested, “Our foreign office should immediately ask them why they refused to issues visas.”

Talking to The Express Tribune, Pakistan Olympics Association Director General Muhammad Afzal termed the decision “unjust”.

“I cannot understand why Greece refused to give them visas despite the fact that Pakistan athletes have shown great talent [at the Special Olympics].’’

He reiterated that there is no example in the history of Pakistan where special athletes were refused visas to participate in the games.

The Greek Embassy in Islamabad has been shut down due to some security issues with the Capital Development Authority for removal of safety barriers from front of the embassy.

Case in point: Short bios of the three special persons denied visas


Muhammad Asif Khan, 28, was going to participate in badminton. He has an intellectual disability, as do two of his six other siblings. In his own words, Asif felt insecure, hurt and worthless before he joined Special Olympics Pakistan, where he tried his hand at badminton.


Regular training and hard work improved his fitness and general behaviour.  Winning medals gave him enormous confidence as he experienced the joy of victory and developed friendships. He tells everyone: “My life would have had no meaning without sports” and “I would have missed out on the best times of my life if I did not join the Special Olympics”.

Ayaz Ahmed, 24, who has an intellectual disability, was hyperactive, aggressive, and, as the oldest of four siblings, always on the edge due to his behaviour.

Just four years ago, Ayaz joined Special Olympics Pakistan, where regular sports training helped him learn the rules of life and the meaning of respect, be it in victory or defeat, on or off the court. He overcame years of insecurity and is now able to express his feelings, which has earned him many friends.

He readily shared his hopes of leading a better life and striving towards personal independence.

Saba Ilyas grew up in an orphanage run by Christian Nuns and has an intellectual disability. She was a weak, shy and insecure child. During Special Olympics training, she showed interest in athletics and swimming, which improved her health and helped her make friends. With time she gained confidence and discovered a hidden talent for singing, dancing, and basketball, for which she won a bronze medal in Beijing in 2007. Travailing also helped Saba in her general behaviour, friendly and helpful to others. She makes every effort to encourage girls to join sports training to gain the same benefits as herself.

She was going to participate in the Global Youth Activation Summit, a parallel event where 66 national teams of teenage volunteers and special persons work together to foster an environment of acceptance and inclusion.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Special Olympics team: Kashmiri woman to play table tennis</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/191225/special-olympics-team-kashmiri-woman-to-play-table-tennis</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/191225/special-olympics-team-kashmiri-woman-to-play-table-tennis#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 18 Jun 11 04:48:48 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Mehwish Iftikhar is hearing impaired and has development disabilities.]]>
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				<![CDATA[AJK-born table tennis player Mehwish Iftikhar had been selected for the Special Olympics, commencing in Athens from July 24 this year, it was officially declared. Mehwish, a resident of remote Panjaira village in Kotli District, is a student at Kashmir Institute of Special Education (KISE), Mirpur. She is hearing impaired and has developmental disabilities.


KISE Director Dr Amjad Insari told APP here on Thursday that Mehwish was a gold-medal winning tennis star who was awarded with a medal in the acknowledgment of her outstanding performance in the National Special Olympics held in Lahore this year. “Mehwish has been selected as a member of the Pakistani contingent of special players for the Special Olympics Summer Games being played in Athens from July 24,” he said.

Dr Insari said the Pakistani team comprised of 59 players and 30 officials who will fly out from Islamabad for Athens on July 19. The Pakistani entourage will take part in eight different sports including football, table tennis, basketball, athletes, swimming, badminton and boo-chi, he added.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Special Olympics: Pakistan set for Summer Games</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/187072/special-olympics-pakistan-set-for-summer-games</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/187072/special-olympics-pakistan-set-for-summer-games#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jun 11 12:50:46 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=187072</guid>
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				<![CDATA[A total of 61 players from Pakistan have been selected for the World Summer Games]]>
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				<![CDATA[A total of 61 players have been selected for the World Summer Games 2011 to be held in Athens, Greece from June 24, confirmed Pakistan Special Olympics Director Arshad Javaid. He also said that the players will depart for Dubai on June 20. “After a long training camp that concluded at the Pakistan Sports Complex, we’re hopeful of returning with good results,” said Javaid while highlighting that in the previous event which was held at Shanghai, Pakistani players bagged 89 medals.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Robert Sargent Shriver Jr: ‘Dear Special Olympics Family’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/106445/robert-sargent-shriver-jr-%e2%80%98dear-special-olympics-family%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/106445/robert-sargent-shriver-jr-%e2%80%98dear-special-olympics-family%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Jan 11 02:54:59 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[express]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=106445</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Sargent Shriver compiled an unparalleled record of public service at every tier.]]>
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				<![CDATA[“Dear Special Olympics Family, It is with great sadness that I report that Robert Sargent ‘Sarge’ Shriver Jr passed away on Wednesday,” said a statement on the Sargent Shrivers website. The statement further added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim, Linda and the extended Shriver family at this difficult time. Shriver, husband to our founder, the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver, was Chairman of the Board Emeritus for Special Olympics and served as president of the Special Olympics movement from 1984 through 1996. Sargent Shriver also served Special Olympics as Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1990 to 2003.

As an international advocate, Sargent Shriver compiled an unparalleled record of public service at every tier, from the local level to the world community. For Special Olympics, Sargent Shriver was a true leader for our Movement, helping us establish and build Programs in the far corners of the globe.  He might be best known as an organizer of the Peace Corps, but to Special Olympics, he holds a cherished spot in our history and our hearts. Today I ask you to please remember in your thoughts, the life of a man who saw the athletes of Special Olympics as ambassadors for peace; a man who was able to transform the roots of violence and discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities by promoting Special Olympics throughout the world.

We will continue his legacy by providing opportunities for people and communities to unite in harmony through sport.  His legacy continues in our new class of Sargent Shriver International Global Messengers.

These Special Olympics athletes from around the world will continue to share his message of peace and unity with the world. I encourage you to visit the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute’s website at www.sargentshriver.org where you can read more about his life and impact on our movement. Peace to Sarge and our prayers again for the whole Shriver family.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th,  2011.]]>
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