64-year old Pakistani wins Gold at Asian Indoor Rowing Championship

Mohammad Shehzad, 64, joined five other athletes as Pakistan clinched a total of 14 medals in Thailand

Mohammad Shehzad, a 64-year-old rower from Pakistan, delivered an outstanding performance at the Asian Indoor Rowing Championship in Thailand, clinching the gold medal in the 60+ singles category.

Shehzad, facing a younger Indian opponent, James Joseph, secured first place, making history with his victory and setting an Asian record of 1:32.30.

His daughter Mahoor Shahzad, an Olympian who represented Pakistan in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, celebrated her father's achievement on X (formerly Twitter).

Alhamdulillah! My father, Muhammad Shahzad, won a gold medal at the 2025 Asian Indoor Rowing Championship, defeating his Indian rival — at the age of 64!

Watching him achieve this has completely transformed the way I view determination, discipline, and strength. pic.twitter.com/eafiTfgElU

— Mahoor Shahzad (@OfficialMahoor) June 5, 2025

Shehzad's victory added to Pakistan’s impressive overall performance at the championship, where the nation secured 14 medals, including 10 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze.

The championship, held from May 26 to 31 in Pattaya, Thailand, saw athletes competing on indoor rowing machines, such as the Concept2 ergometer, simulating the rowing experience in a controlled environment.

This remarkable achievement capped off a series of successes by Pakistani rowers, with Abdul Jabbar and Tayyab Iftikhar also contributing to the medal tally.

Shehzad’s win, however, stood out as a personal triumph, and he dedicated the victory to the Pakistan Armed Forces and the nation’s martyrs, further adding emotional depth to his achievement.