WAPDA dominate track and field

Rabia Ashiq, who will be representing Pakistan at the London Olympics, grabbed another gold for Wapda, winning the 800m in a time of 2:22:27.

KARACHI: Wapda dominated the opening day of the 44th National Athletics Championship, picking up six gold medals as Army, with four gold medals, were hot on their heels at the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Complex in Islamabad yesterday.

Pakistan’s double bronze medallist at the Asian Grand Prix, Wapda’s Zeenat Parveen, picked up a gold in the shot put event with a throw of 12.79m. Teammate Nazia Butt took silver and Railways’ Abida Chagezi came third.

Meanwhile, Rabia Ashiq, who will be representing Pakistan at the London Olympics, grabbed another gold for Wapda, winning the 800m in a time of 2:22:27. Wadpa’s Nasreen Akhtar (pole vault), Maryam Babar (triple jump), Sumera Tayyaba (110m hurdles) and Parveen Akhtar (javelin) also bagged gold medals.

For Army, Sanaullah took gold in the men’s javelin 66.58m) while Sidra Kausar won the high-jump event (1.44m). Ashraf Ali finished top in the shot put event (16.41m) and Naushad won the 5,000m race with a time of 15:23:90.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2012.