LONDON: After Pakistan’s sole female representative in the Olympics swimming event Anam Bandey was knocked out, the country’s other swimmer, Israr Hussain, also failed to keep afloat at the mega event. While Pakistani shooter Khurram Inam too was blown away in the skeet event.
National champion Hussain dived into the pool for the men’s 100m freestyle today but only to finish last.
With a time of 57.86, Hussain ranked 54 in the list of 56 swimmers and last in his pool.
Shooter Inam ranked 28 amongst 36 shooters with the total score of 112. He scored 21, 23, 23, 20, 25 in the six rounds respectively.
Hussain had earned a wild-card entry to the London Games after his show in the Shanghai qualifiers.
Hussain hails from the suburbs of Rawalpindi where he used to swim in a lake and, in order to pursue his passion for swimming, he enlisted himself in the Army and has been participating in local events for the last 10 years.
“Participating in the Olympics has been my life-long dream and it is about to come true,” Hussain had told The Express Tribune from London before the start of the mega event. “I have been personally training for it since 2008. It is my first time at the Olympics so I am thrilled and nervous at the same time.”
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good show to our sports men/women who have represented Pakistan at the olympics - good luck to you for all your future endeavours
Typical of the Pakistani people - start with sport, end with religion!
For once can you try and not blend religion into everything?
@Mehsud: I cant believe you said that and I cant believe the moderators actually approved your comment! There they are trying to earn a good name for their country and here you are with your bigotry and short sighted narrow mindedness! Bas farq itna hai ki aap naam ghark kar rahein hain aur woh naam roshan!
Some of the comments in regard to your Olympic athletes make me wonder why they wanted to even participate under your country's name. Talk about a bunch of demoralizing, self-centered douche bags.
@Hammad: Hey weirdo, what's next? Taking a shower naked will be proclaimed 'haram' by you?
pakistan should do what the chinese do. grab kids from an early age and just train them their whole lives for the olympics to bring glory for the country! currently, its just whoevers bothered and then who ever has the money or opportunity to pursue it
“I have been personally training for it since 2008".............. Michael Phelps started swimming when he was 7, became a national champion at 15 and then an Olympic champion. His Olympic medals are more than Pakistan had made in 65 years. I guess that we just have to start early.
CRICKET is the main cause of downfall of all sports in Pakistan, specially HOCKEY and SQUASH. We, out of our procrastinating attitude, chose to fund the "game" played by just a few countries and lost our titles in truly international games, where Pakistan's name was an awe!
@Mehsud: Sir, for some people this is a job and in Ramadan you are not supposed to change your routine. These players were there to represent our country and to show the world that even while fasting they are able to compete in an international level. This is why we never flourish in other sports. You probably praised Hashim Amla for his performance during fast. Extremist minds like you are making our country a laughing stock of the world
@Mehsud:
Maybe Pakistanis don't need to do anything that makes them engage with the world they should just cut of all relations with the world and sit with the closest Mullah and hope all goes well!
Grow up and stop using our great religion as a tool to manipulate and control Muslims in Pakistan
whn i say this i hope i speak on behalf of pakitanis who r proud of u h thnkful to u for representing in the olympics..... Jeeto ya haro.....hamein tum se piyar hai.
@Hammad: Harram, according to who? Methinks bad-mouthing others is a worse sin than whatever sin these poor swimmers are being accused of committing!
US, Russia, China, Canada - it's AMAZING how much they spend on sports and their athletes. Their athletes train for hours everyday and have a proper diet to keep them energized. Sports competition are held throughout the country in which athletes and aspiring athletes partake in. None of that happens in Pakistan, it is extremely foolish to expect that they will be able to beat anyone on a regular basis. Talent alone isn't anything, you have to nurture, polish and utilize that talent as well. Nepotism and corruption have hindered any chances of winning anything even more.
The school I went to in Karachi, they would make us buy our own sports equipment. Most of us belonged to the middle class so we could afford them, if you weren't from a well to do family, you wouldn't be able to pay the fees so there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to afford them. So, after buying those equipments, we would make use of them only a few times. Then they would make us buy something else.
In our PT class, we would either sit in the ground if it was too hot to play, use it as a "break" or play games like Pakram Pakrai or Cho Cho. That's right - no sports in PT except for some cricket. The PT teacher would only sit and watch us play.
Good. Swimming in shorts is haraam.
as expected happened!!
China is the new swimming sensation this olympics. And have a look at what they are spending to get such world class swimmers. Talent picked up at the right age, with the right criterion is being provided the world's best coaches' input for so many many years. You are BOUND to get gold if you work like that. And our guy got trained in a lake and in the Army facilities? we are not working on professional development in our games, except perhaps in cricket (whee we have worked too much already).
Your comment is really disappointing, considering our support for sportsmen & Women both in terms of facilities and remunerations and not ignoring the criticism and threats from the morale and religious brigade, its a big achievement.
The performance of these players is the reflection of the situation of our beloved country.
57.86 , less than a minute , good show
Match fixing, anyone?
At least they tried. Well done! Also, they were part of the team with 'authentic' Olympic visa. :)
@Mehsud Who says you can't play during Ramazan? In fact there is NO such thing as: "praying all the time," in Islam. In Islam Deen and Dunya go together. In fact we should work more in Ramazan it is just another test of our stamina. Playing isn't a bad idea either.
@ Mehsud We know that you just clicked on the link hoping that you will see bikini clad women :) . Your attempt was a BIG FAIL
my first preference will be to get electricity not gold medals in Olympics
@Mehsud: Right sir, they prefer to play in Ramazan, that too half naked in front of everyone.
@burner: You are right taking part in the Olympics is a honor . Most of those criticizing would never have swum 100mtrs
Thank you both for representing us to such a sports platform; Best Wishes for the future!
Your newspaper obviously loves sensationalism, words like crashes out, keep afloat etc. hello hello if your reporter knows anything of sports he would realize that Pakistan was never in it for the medals. Among the millions of sportsperson, only a few are selected to represent their country and a few manage to reach the finals and get medals. The very fact that among the millions a of our sportspersons have been selected to represent their country at this prestigious event, is an honor for Pakistan and for our sportsman. They are the best Pakistan has. They need to be encouraged to do better, not critisized. Be responsible. Do good journalism, not sensationalism.
wasn't there a 17 year old swimmer from Pakistan at the Beijing games? if she had the talent 4 years ago; surely someone should've taken her under their wing and trained her for the London games?
What the heck sports ministry is doing to promote sports in Pakistan?? I am glad they don't control PCB or else we would see the same performance there too.
Still proud of them just making it to olympics given the sitaution in country is a huge show.
I am very happy to hear the news that these Pakistani players were kicked out from the round of game. they prefer to play on Ramazan. The holy month of Ramazan has started and this is the time to pray and made our Almighty Allah by following the way instructed by the last prophet but these players violated the path and the holy month. sham. shame.
what do you expect in a country where everything besides cricket is neglected
Never mind. In a country without any infrastructure of even basic sports facilities, much cant be expected but hopefully these athletes will improve next time.
what were you expecting? gold medals?
Pakistan will ONLY be able to compete when it is ready to hold Olympics standard games-theoretically that is! It needs to develop sports as an institution and provide the infrastructure for the development of sports