Army athletes hit back

Win 7 of 13 events played on day two of national championship.

KARACHI:

Wapda continued their dominance at the 45^th National Athletics Championship with Army managing to salvage some pride by winning seven of the 13 events staged on day two of the event underway at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad.

However, Wapda still managed to add five more gold medals to the 11 they won on day one with PAF bagging a solitary gold as well.

Army’s Mohammad Nawaz delivered the first gold medal of the day by winning the 3,000m steeplechase (men) event with a time of 9:36.07, while teammates Rehan Anjum and Mohammad Jaffar doubled the joy by winning pole vault with a try of 4.70m.

Wapda’s Azhar Abbas clinched first position in hammer throw (men) with an effort of 62.37m, while the Army’s duo of Mohammad Shakeel (61.97m) and Shahid Hameed (60.03) ended up in second and third position respectively.

The discus throw (men) went to Army courtesy Basharat Ali’s try of 49.21, while Olympian Rabia Ashiq of Wapda bagged her second gold medal of the championship after winning the women’s 1,500m.

Wapda’s Nazia Kausar got pole position in hammer throw by throwing a distance of 34.02m, while teammate Maryam Babar won the long jump competition after registering a total of 5.65m.

PAF’s only gold medal was won by Mohsin Ali who clinched the 110m Hurdles with a time of 14.53 to get the better of Army’s Muhammad Ramzan (14.88) and Wapda’s Muhammad Nawaz (15.39).

Army’s Abdul Waheed was the fastest man in the 800m race as he covered the distance in 1:55.14, while fellow player Noukar Hussain triumphed in the 400m hurdles.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2013.