KARACHI: For 23-year-old Kiran Khan, the failure to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics has not stopped her from striving to prove her doubters wrong.
Setting a national record by winning 15 gold medals at the swimming championships of the ongoing National Games in Islamabad was a battle for the swimmer to prove she is amongst the great athletes Pakistan has produced.
The Lahore-based swimmer’s tally – breaking her own previous best of 13 gold medals at the Games – was just her way of showcasing her skills.
Kiran said that despite her consistent performances in the pool, the Pakistan Swimming Federation has somehow always managed to snub her when it comes to international events. However, her record-breaking feat has given her more confidence in her skills and at 23 years of age, she says she is at her best.
“I’m just excited that all of my hard work paid off,” Khan told The Express Tribune. “A year ago I was struggling, there was also a time when I couldn’t even achieve my personal best timing, but I still trained. When I was in the US for my studies, I swam for myself, improved on my own, and bounced back,” Kiran said.
“I’ve made a comeback and I created history by winning 15 gold medals, which is another national record. However, I do feel that the participation in international events is the key and the next step for me,” she explained.
She managed to break the national record in the 50-metre freestyle event this year with a time of 28.98 seconds, breaking Rubab Raza’s previous mark of 29.01 seconds.
“This was my fifth participation in the National Games. I began my career in 2001 and I’ve broken all the records. Even today, I know new swimmers are coming and they are very fresh, ready and fast, but my competition is against the time,” Kiran claimed.
“I’m not competing against any other swimmer, when I’m in the pool it is me against the clock. I just have to beat the time and that is my motivation. I know I have to push myself and beat my own personal best time. This time around at the National Games too, I just wanted to prove that I can still win gold medals and break records.”
But despite regularly training in the pool, according to Kiran, her latest disappointment has been another snub from the PSF this month, when the national swimming body sent another swimmer to the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Incheon, South Korea.
She added, “I am an excellent short course swimmer and I could have done really well in Korea. It does affect me that I cannot participate in the international FINA (International Swimming Federation) events without the approval from the Pakistan Olympic Association or Pakistan Sports Board.”
However, she is optimistic her hard work will be noticed. She said the PSF has not contacted her for the upcoming FINA Championship in Barcelona or in Dubai that will begin from July 20 and continue till August.
But the highlight for her this year will be the South Asian Games, where she will be competing Indian athletes, that is, if she is chosen by the swimming federation.
“I really want to compete at the South Asian Games, because competing against the Indians is always exciting. Secondly, I really need to participate in this competition just to gauge my own skill and how much I need to improve. I hope the PSF will send me to the SAG this year, I know I can win gold medals against Indian swimmers too,” Kiran concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (13)
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Congratulations to Kiran for ahcieving personal bests. You are right in swimming against your own times and trying to constantly improving them. My 14 year old son swims here in the US. The Pakistani national record times are slower than what 13-14 year old girls at US local levels (not even regional) can swim. I constantly see 14 year old girls break 30 seconds and the better ones are around 26-27 for 50 free. Pakistan has a long way to go to compete internationally. The key is to start at 5-6 years age, good training facilities, and good coaching, plus hard work. Best of luck and keep working hard. Once you retire, I hope you take up coaching young girls.
She should go to regional competition (as she said SA games) competing with swimmers who are about 1-2 secs faster than her, that will help her improve her time and raising the bar for other swimmers and progressively raising local standards. Very nice effort but still too slow for real international events 5 secs gap is eternity when it comes to 50meters
Congrats sister. You are the proof how much hidden talent women of Pakistan have that religious fanatics have other concealed.
Good Job done girl can anyone relate her recent achievements with world class swimmers? How much she lag behind ?
Only way Pakistan can compete in Olympics is if we provide sports facilities to govt schools and colleges and make sure that ordinary Pakistani boys and girls have access to them. Sadly at the moment the facilities like access to swimming pools and gymnasiums are only limited to our elite or the ones who are in some way related to huge govt organizations. I am sure its the education sector that deserves these gymnasiums instead of Pak Railways or WAPDA etc
@Amjad: Congratulations on your unrivalled success. What Amjad said is absolutely correct. "The higher you go the harder you fall." Let your personality remain humble and show respect for all. That way you will gain. Inshallah. Salams
You could use a fair bit of humility though.
@ Kiran Khan - Congrats... You are welcome to India and I pray that you visit India and compete with my fellow Indians. All the best in your future endeavours...
You are awesome Kiran. Keep going.
(No hate) Still too slow to be competing with rest of the world. Need proper attention to other sports rather than spending all the money on cricket which we really dont know how to play anymore!!
we are proud of you.
Kiran, hats off. Splendid achievment.Just don't quit.
Congratulations. Great achievement considering lack of facilities in Pakistan. 28.98 is new Pakistan record. However Olympic selection time for 2012 Olympics was 26.15 and actual qualifying time after heats was 25.27. World record sits at 23.25 seconds for 50 m Freestyle. In 2012 Olympics 52nd place (a lady from Uganda) clocked 28.44 secs in this race.
We have the passion ans desire, but need proper facilities and training.