Weightlifters ready to flex muscles

Six-member squad to represent Pakistan in world and Commonwealth events

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top six weightlifters are all set to represent the country at the Youth World Championships and Commonwealth Youth and Junior weightlifting Championships starting on October 25 in Penang, Malaysia.

The prospective participants have been attending a training camp for the last two months.

“We shortlisted 11 talented weightlifters, and then further narrowed down the list to six,” Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWF) Vice-President Muhammad Rashed Malik told The Express Tribune. “Our goal is to groom them for 2020 Olympics. This is their first test.”



Pakistan hold a good record of winning medals at the regional events, with the squad including the likes of Muhammad Nooh Dastagir Butt in the 105kg category, who won gold medals in the Asian Youth Championship and the Commonwealth Junior and Youth Championships last year.

Also taking part in the competition is Abdur Rehamn Butt (85kg), who picked up gold and silver in last year’s Asian Youth Championship and Commonwealth Youth Championship respectively. Others in the squad are Talha Talib (62kg), Farhan Amjad (77kg), Muhammad Saqib Saeed (85kg) and Muhammad Abdullah Butt (105kg).



“We’re hoping that our players will win medals in this event as well,” said Malik. “They’ve been working hard, and their training sessions are showing that they are ready to take on the competition in both World Youth Champions and Commonwealth Youth Championship.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2016.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.