Slaloming to success: Young medallists make Pakistan proud
Junior skiers’ coach talks about their impressive showing in Dream Program.
PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Pakistan juniors’ skiing coach Qamar Islam believes that teenagers Muhammad Jamil and Muhammad Irshad have built upon the country’s impressive showings at the Dream Program in South Korea by winning multiple medals at the event’s latest instalment.
Islam accompanied Jamil and Irshad to South Korea, where Pakistani skiers had secured podium finishes for two consecutive years. This year was no different either as Jamil bagged silver and Irshad bronze in the giant slalom event, with timings of 23.6 and 23.12 respectively.
While the duo fell just short of winning the gold medal — something that their compatriots had managed last year — Islam says the Naltar youth still made the country proud.
Skiing: Jamil, Irshad bag silver, bronze in South Korea
“It was quite an experience for the boys,” Qamar told The Express Tribune. “They got to travel for the first time, and they really held their own in training as well as the competition itself.”
He then shed some light on the boys’ incredible journey from the Naltar Ski School to the Dream Program. “These children that we’ve picked are growing to be the future,” added Islam. “In addition to skiing training, they get their academic education at the Naltar Ski School too.”
The coach believes the players will be all the more stronger for this experience. “And this exposure for them will only add to their character,” he said. “On this tour, they have learned about different cultures.”
The Dream Program will continue to take place till the 2018 Winter Olympics and Pakistan is expected to send its skiers each year.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2016.
Pakistan juniors’ skiing coach Qamar Islam believes that teenagers Muhammad Jamil and Muhammad Irshad have built upon the country’s impressive showings at the Dream Program in South Korea by winning multiple medals at the event’s latest instalment.
Islam accompanied Jamil and Irshad to South Korea, where Pakistani skiers had secured podium finishes for two consecutive years. This year was no different either as Jamil bagged silver and Irshad bronze in the giant slalom event, with timings of 23.6 and 23.12 respectively.
While the duo fell just short of winning the gold medal — something that their compatriots had managed last year — Islam says the Naltar youth still made the country proud.
Skiing: Jamil, Irshad bag silver, bronze in South Korea
“It was quite an experience for the boys,” Qamar told The Express Tribune. “They got to travel for the first time, and they really held their own in training as well as the competition itself.”
He then shed some light on the boys’ incredible journey from the Naltar Ski School to the Dream Program. “These children that we’ve picked are growing to be the future,” added Islam. “In addition to skiing training, they get their academic education at the Naltar Ski School too.”
The coach believes the players will be all the more stronger for this experience. “And this exposure for them will only add to their character,” he said. “On this tour, they have learned about different cultures.”
The Dream Program will continue to take place till the 2018 Winter Olympics and Pakistan is expected to send its skiers each year.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2016.