Sports

Pakistan’s Haris Bandey finishes last in 400m freestyle in Rio

17-year-old timed at 4min 33.13sec, whereas first place holder Conor Dwyer completed heat in 3min 43.42sec

Nabil Tahir August 07, 2016

PHOTO COURTESY: Haris Bandey Facebook

KARACHI: In a disappointing turn of events, Pakistani swimmer Haris Bandey crashed out of the Rio Olympics in the first round as he came last in men’s 400m freestyle heat at the Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.

Of 50 swimmers, Bandey was the last to complete the heat as he was timed at 4min 33.13sec. Whereas first place holder Conor Dwyer completed the heat in 3min 43.42sec and 49th place Pol Arias was timed at 4min 21.16sec.

The 17-year-old London-based swimmer didn’t even reach the score he reached at the 16th World Championship at Kazan, Russia in 2015.

Pakistan’s contingent looks to impress

Bandey is one of seven athletes along with 17 officials sent by Pakistan at the ongoing event in Brazil. Earlier, Pakistan’s first female shooter, Minhal Sohail, secured 28th position in the 10m air rifle event in Rio.

After yesterday’s results, Pakistan’s hopes for an Olympic medal lie with the five remaining athletes, which include swimmer Lianna Swan, judoka Shah Hussain Shah, shooter Ghulam Mustafa, and sprinters Mehboob Ali and Najma Parveen.

Previously, Pakistan Swimming Federation (PSF) president Majid Waseem claimed that Bandey and Lianna Swan are the best swimmers they have in the country. “These two swimmers have been practicing abroad and are the best swimmers we have,” he said.

24 Pakistani Olympians to watch at Rio 2016

Here’s a list of top and bottom five results in Bandey’s heat:

1. Conor Dwyer (USA) 3min 43.42sec

2. Mack Horton (Australia) 3min 43.84sec

3. Gabriele Detti (Italy) 3min 43.95sec

4. Sun Yang (China) 3min 44.23sec

5. David McKeon (Australia) 3min 44.68sec

46. Jessie Lacuna (Philippines) 4min 01.70sec

47. Iacovos Hadjiconstantinou (Cyprus) 4min 03.53sec

48. Geoffrey Butler (Cayman Islands) 4min 07.87sec

49. Pol Arias (Andorra) 4min 21.16sec

50. Haris Bandey (Pakistan) 4min 33.13sec

COMMENTS (27)

Zayn Malik | 8 years ago | Reply This is a boy who is not even Pakistani. He is a British citizen from rich parents. He was allowed to use Pakistan's name to go to Olympics. He is made now. He can go to any University in the world with full scholarship and will get any job of his choosing after he graduates. Such is the power of being an Olympian. That is how the rich and powerful use Pakistan's name and then dump it in the dumpster. He could not have even dreamed even applying for the Olympics from Britain.

Gulnefer | 8 years ago | Reply For me he is a winner!! He got selected & he gave his best !! well done Harris !!! We are all very proud of you The envious will always pull you down !!

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Ali | 8 years ago | Reply @Humza: He practices and trains throughout the year in London.. He doesnt even live in Pakistan. He doesn't know what it is like to be an athlete training in Pakistan.

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply @curious2: Its not only about finishing last. He dis not even reached the time on which he gained wild card entry.. he was 1.23 seconds slower. What would you call this?

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply @Jawad: Please correct its two shooters and one Judoka who gained qualification rest were given wild card entries

numbersnumbers | 8 years ago | Reply @Altaf hussein: Too bad for you that India didn't send any swimmers for this particular event! BTW what was India's time for this heat?????

Altaf hussein | 8 years ago | Reply Congratulations - at least we have better time than India

Sam | 8 years ago | Reply Reading between the lines, our best stands at bottom on world stage. Our products (any kind) need to be of top quality to compete at any level. Just talking about something non-stop doesn't get things done. Do something ... Or be quiet like a slave nation we have become.

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply @mani: There is unlimited talent in Pakistan and our athletes have proved it world over but since fundamentalist, terrorists and religious fanatics have taken over our educational, media and cultural institutes, Pakistan has slipped to bottom. In a country where a "Marathon Winner" is actually that fundamentalist who did not allow organizers to hold Marathon is praised in media and in society, expecting that someone will win medals is foolish.

Babu | 8 years ago | Reply He must be a relative of one of our government officials, hence given the token spot

Humza | 8 years ago | Reply @mani: Pakistan has won in the past in other sporting events and it's a shame that you cannot understand the real message of the Olympic Games. Despite little official support and training facilties, Pakistani athletes give their best. @MK: He did his best and that is what matters. He may have had a bad day or there may be any number of reasons to explain his poor performance but everyone should be proud of him and support him. He represented and tried. That is what matters.

He's a hero | 8 years ago | Reply Kid you made us proud keep up the good work. All the negative comments are from cynics who have not even achieved getting a place in their school athletics.

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi | 8 years ago | Reply Congratulations for coming at the top but from bottom. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Saad | 8 years ago | Reply Every sector of our country is failing It can be repaired only by appointing sensible and corrupt less people

Fahim | 8 years ago | Reply Still close, just 1 minute late.

curious2 | 8 years ago | Reply Author, Editor and maybe Pakistan has no sense of the spirit of the Olympics. It's not about winning and especially not about emphasizing that some contestant came in last. You should be celebrating all the hard work it took for this athlete to reach the Olympics. The term "grow up" comes to mind.

Nadeem | 8 years ago | Reply Proud of you Harris. Your time is excellent. Little more training and international competitions exposure would bring you in the top three in the world. Well done and keep it up.

mani | 8 years ago | Reply Its shame that a country of 200 million people is not able to win a single medal in any sport at Olympics

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply No shame in it. He qualified to participate which itself is a great achievement unlike our hockey team which failed to qualify. Shame on them.

Rahul | 8 years ago | Reply Playing not winning is what matters!

SuperNeo | 8 years ago | Reply What a proud moment for Pakistan!!!

M. Emad | 8 years ago | Reply Basic --> Better --> Best ----- Best swimmer from the bottom !

Jawad | 8 years ago | Reply Beginning to doubt the credibility of news made on ET, 3 shooters qualified on basis of specific quota and the rest 4 are on wild card entries and you guys are hoping medals? Maybe our players need to be encouraged for the participation only at the moment and maybe ET needs to question about number of officials,

Nadiya Kassam | 8 years ago | Reply Absolutely appalled at this article! Instead of encouraging our young athletes, your harsh words will most certainly crush the morale of this accomplished 17 year old. None of us expect Pakistan to get very far, but lets at least support the talent we have sent. Congratulations on making it there Bandey!

Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply So what's he grinning about ?!? Guess finishing last is an achievement in and of itself.

MK | 8 years ago | Reply hmmmmmmmmm Majid Waseem, so your best in the country finished last.

Adnan | 8 years ago | Reply To top it, he is not even a resident of Pakistan.

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