Azhar lands Pakistan’s first medal
Azhar Hussain wins silver medal for men’s 55kg Creco-Roman wrestling after losing final to India’s Rajendar Kumar.
NEW DEHLI:
Pakistan’s wait for a medal in New Delhi came to an end as wrestler Azhar Hussain claimed the first silver medal for his country to put Pakistan on the medals table after a three-day wait.
Hussain, the national champion, gave a good show in the initial stages of the event to reach the final of the 55-kilogramnme Greco-Roman event where he was beaten by his Indian counterpart Rajendar Kumar with Canada’s Promise Mwenga winning bronze.
The 21-year old from Muzaffargarh, despite the loss in the final, was delighted by his achievement.
“It is one the most memorable moments of my life,” a jubilant Hussain told The Express Tribune after the final. “I can’t express the feeling I experienced after looking at the Pakistan flag fly high in the ceremony. I always believed that we have the potential and can win medals at the highest level.”
It was Hussain’s best performance after a silver at the 2007 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship.
Meanwhile, Pakistan wrestling team manager Chaudhary Asghar said the country was hoping for more medals in the discipline.
“It was a welcome medal as our best is yet to come,” he said adding “the Greco-Roman event was not our main aim as we especially trained for the free-style competition where we are hoping to do even better.”
Nawaz knocked out of boxing
Pakistan received unpleasant news from the boxing camp where Nawaz Dad Khan lost his first-round match against his Nigerian opponent in the 60-kg category. Waheed Sogbamu outclassed Khan 11-1 to advance in the competition in the only fight featuring a Pakistan boxer yesterday.
Three Pakistan boxers – Mohammad Waseem, Haroon Khan and Qadir Khan – will be seen in action today in their pre quarter-finals.
Shooters continue unimpressive show
Day three was another embarrassment for the national shooters where they failed to secure a place in the top five of the two events they took part in. Kaleemullah Khan brought the best performance for Pakistan after finishing sixth in free pistol with a total of 540 points from 600.
Irshad Ali, who managed 519 points, found himself at the bottom of the event. In the ladies sport pistol event, Tazeen Abbasi finished 11th with 555 points.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2010.
Pakistan’s wait for a medal in New Delhi came to an end as wrestler Azhar Hussain claimed the first silver medal for his country to put Pakistan on the medals table after a three-day wait.
Hussain, the national champion, gave a good show in the initial stages of the event to reach the final of the 55-kilogramnme Greco-Roman event where he was beaten by his Indian counterpart Rajendar Kumar with Canada’s Promise Mwenga winning bronze.
The 21-year old from Muzaffargarh, despite the loss in the final, was delighted by his achievement.
“It is one the most memorable moments of my life,” a jubilant Hussain told The Express Tribune after the final. “I can’t express the feeling I experienced after looking at the Pakistan flag fly high in the ceremony. I always believed that we have the potential and can win medals at the highest level.”
It was Hussain’s best performance after a silver at the 2007 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship.
Meanwhile, Pakistan wrestling team manager Chaudhary Asghar said the country was hoping for more medals in the discipline.
“It was a welcome medal as our best is yet to come,” he said adding “the Greco-Roman event was not our main aim as we especially trained for the free-style competition where we are hoping to do even better.”
Nawaz knocked out of boxing
Pakistan received unpleasant news from the boxing camp where Nawaz Dad Khan lost his first-round match against his Nigerian opponent in the 60-kg category. Waheed Sogbamu outclassed Khan 11-1 to advance in the competition in the only fight featuring a Pakistan boxer yesterday.
Three Pakistan boxers – Mohammad Waseem, Haroon Khan and Qadir Khan – will be seen in action today in their pre quarter-finals.
Shooters continue unimpressive show
Day three was another embarrassment for the national shooters where they failed to secure a place in the top five of the two events they took part in. Kaleemullah Khan brought the best performance for Pakistan after finishing sixth in free pistol with a total of 540 points from 600.
Irshad Ali, who managed 519 points, found himself at the bottom of the event. In the ladies sport pistol event, Tazeen Abbasi finished 11th with 555 points.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2010.