Special athletes bring glory to Pakistan with 51 medals

Contestants end Asia Pacific Games campaign on a high.

KARACHI: A tally of 51 medals concluded Pakistan’s triumphant finish at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games 2013 in New Castle, Australia on Friday.

Pakistan competed in seven disciplines at the Games that featured 2,500 athletes from different countries.

The athletes won 28 of the 51 medals on the last day of the Games in bocce, athletics and badminton competitions. Nineteen-year-old Suhail Ahmed Khan emerged as the star with his three gold medals for Pakistan in Division 1 of the badminton event.

His first gold came in a singles match while the second was clinched when he paired up with Muhammad Nouman in the men’s doubles event. He wrapped up the gold chase with Quratul Ain in the mixed doubles event.

“Suhail impressed everyone,” the Special Olympics Pakistan official Khalid Rehmani told The Express Tribune. “He showed an immense desire to compete in the games.”

According to Rehmani, another star of the Games was 15-year-old Muneeb Siddiqui who won two medals in the 25m free style and 25m breast stroke swimming events.

“Foe each victorious athlete, winning a medal was a sight to behold. They kept coming back to show their medals to me and boast about it every chance they got.

“Our athletes found a real connection with the other participants and that made them very happy.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan also won eight gold medals in bocce events with three silver and four bronze medals.

Atif Ali, Muhammad Haseeb Abbasi, Abdul Wahaj Khan and Muhammad Ali Tahir won gold in different divisions of men’s singles events, while Maria Zulfiqar and Saima Tabsuum earned gold in women singles. Azmat Tara and Nabila Mukhtar took medals in women’s doubles competition.

In athletics, Imran Husnain won a gold medal in the long jump, while Tehmina bagged silver in shot put and Gohar Ali secured second position in the 100m race.

For table tennis, Anam Ahmed paired with Jazib Naveed to take the gold medal in the men’s doubles event.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2013.

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