CWG 2022: Shajar qualifies for 200m finals

Pakistan sprinter secures eighth spot overall to make the cut with time of 20.89 seconds

KARACHI:

Youngster Shajar Abbas became the first Pakistani sprinter to qualify for the Commonwealth Games finals.

The 22-year-old from Awanchak village in Pattoki, Kasur lived up to his promise that he would do his best when he ran the 200m semifinal-1 and clocked 20.89 seconds.

The top two sprinters in each of the three semi-finals qualified automatically while the next 2 fastest athletes made the cut to join them in the end.

Shajar finished his semi-final 1 in the fifth place but his 20.89 seconds turned out to be enough as he ranked eighth overall, barely booking his place in the final.

Shajar was excited for the 200m even though his 100m did not end the way he wanted, with him finishing in the 27th place.

However, he picked his spirits up, even though his coach Sajjad Ahmed is not with him, who he missed immensely for guidance, and managed to qualify for the semi-finals of 200m.

Shajar’s favourite event is the 200m sprint. “I love 200m sprint. I am going to give my all in the event, leave it all on the track and the rest is on Allah’s will,” he had said before the event on Friday.

Shajar won gold medal in Iran in 200m and another gold in 100m and bronze in 200m in Kazakhstan in May and June respectively.

Pakistan’s most successful sprinters in 100 yards are Abdul Khaliq who made it to the quarter-finals of the Games in 1958, and John Permal who also ran 100m quarter-finals in 1970.