Pakistan boosts medal count at Special Olympics

Powerlifter Habibullah, sprinter Luqman each win gold in +90kg and 100m, respectively

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s powerlifter Habibullah and sprinter Muhammad Luqman shone at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin on Saturday as they won multiple medals. 

Habibullah won a gold medal in the +90kg category, while Luqman also topped the podium in the 100m final. 

Habibullah lifted 145kg in the deadlift competition to win the gold medal. He also performed well in the bench press event, where he finished second with a 60kg attempt, losing his first spot to Bulgaria’s Valeri Marinov in the M19 division.   

His other silver medal was confirmed in the squat event in which he lifted 95kgs along with one in the Combined Squat, Bench Press, and Deadlift event. 

Meanwhile, the 17-year-old Luqman made the country proud with a stellar finish in the 100m sprint. He only took 15.21 seconds to cover the distance, leaving behind South Korean and Capo Verde athletes by more than 20 seconds. 

Luqman also impressed in the long jump event with a silver medal. 

Mirwais bagged the silver medal in the 3000m sprint, taking 10 minutes and 11 seconds to claim his place on the podium. 

So far, Pakistani athletes have earned nine gold, 13 silver, and nine bronze medals. 

Pakistani hockey players also grabbed a medal on their debut at the World Games. In the field hockey mixed event, Pakistan ended their campaign in third place with a bronze medal after defeating Paraguay 3-2 in their six-a-side playoff for the third place. 

Swimmer Hassan Patel also helped better Pakistan’s medal tally as he earned a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle event. He clocked one minute and 3.93 seconds to be on the stand. 

Sadia Junaid finished her tennis singles event in style as she won a silver medal. 

Pakistan’s basketball team in the unified men’s event also pulled off a good performance to clinch a bronze medal. 

The Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP) has been fielding 87 athletes in 11 disciplines.