Even though Pakistan failed to end up among the top three, the performance of its 263 male and female athletes is commendable, given the deplorable state of the sports facilities available in the country; the perennial lack of funds which has even prevented our sportsmen from competing in international events; the infighting within the sports associations like the Pakistan Sports Board and the Pakistan Olympics Association; and above all the ‘war zone’ effect due to which foreign sportsmen have been avoiding Pakistan for years and years, denying the local players the opportunity to lock in top-level duels and, in the process, learn and progress.
Still our sportsmen — led by 22-year-old Arshad Nadeem — proved their skill and talent in all events. Nadeem himself won gold in the men’s javelin throw contest to qualify directly for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Pakistan also beat archrival India in the squash team event for the gold. In other notable performances, Nooh and Anzala brothers won gold medals in weightlifting; Uzair Rehman earned gold medal in 200m men’s race clocking a distance of 21:15 seconds while Najma Perveen won silver in 200m by completing the distance in 21.15 seconds. Our male and female karatekas also bagged golds for the country. It’s the sheer talent and hardwork of our athletes that has won us sporting laurels, and the government must pay attention towards realising their potential by providing them the necessary facilities and the patronage they deserve.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2019.
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