Pakistan’s sporting success brings joy, hope to nation

Pakistani sports saw a surge of good news and hope in 2024 as the athletes managed to surprise the world in a number of disciplines, winning international accolades despite the limited resources and the lack of focus on non-cricket sports.Most of the newsmakers for Pakistan in sports were men and a huge gap can be felt in participation and results when it comes to the female athletes.Let’s relive the moments that gave us the Pakistani sports heroes for 2024.Haider AliPakistan’s most successful individual athlete is, hands down, Haider Ali, who cemented his status at the bustling Stade de France in north of Paris when he grabbed his fourth Paralympic Games medal. He was going for gold, and a successful title defense in discus throw category F37 but fell short in the middle of the fight. He finished the event with a bronze medal despite the flu he was experiencing during the event on the afternoon of September 6.Haider is the only Pakistani athlete to ever win a Paralympic medal at the Games for Pakistan. In Paris, he made his international debut after two years because of the lack of funds and support. He trained in the rain and waterlogged open grounds of Gujranwala before going to Paris, with only a 10-day camp provided by the Pakistan Sports Board.He has won four medals, including one gold, one silver, and now two bronzes in five games he competed at, making his success rate at the biggest stage of the sports 80 percent. He stands alone with the success he has had for Pakistan.Arshad NadeemJavelin thrower Arshad Nadeem stunned the world with a monstrous 92.97 meter mark breaking the Olympic record and winning the gold medal at Stade de France on the evening of August 8. He looked hungrier than ever to break the work record of 98.48 meters. He created the record on his second throw and left his opponents, especially the defending champion and off-the-field friend India’s Neeraj Chopra, stunned while chasing after the mark he himself had set earlier in the final.In a remarkable performance, Arshad brought Pakistan’s first Olympic medal in 32 years and its first gold in 40 years.This was Arshad’s second appearance at the Olympics. He had finished fifth in Tokyo.Muhammad AsifMuhammad Asif became only the second person in the International Billiards and Snooker Federation’s history and the first in Pakistan to win the World Championship title thrice.Asif defeated Iran’s Ali Gharahgozlou 5-3 in the final played in Doha in November to bring the trophy home. He previously won the championship in 2012 and 2019.Nooh DastgirNooh Dastgir had to miss the Paris Olympics due to the political powerplays at the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation but he came back stronger when he won the Strongman competition in May. Then he started preparing for the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship to make his debut in the sport.He won seven gold medals and a bronze at the Commonwealth Championship classic and equipped events in October and in December he created the Asian record at the Asian Powerlifting Championship with a 400-kg squat in the +120 kg category.Ali IlyasCycling Ali Ilyas became the first Pakistani ever to win the Asian title. He won two gold medals demonstrating incredible speed and endurance at the Asian Road Cycling Championship in June.He covered 21 kilometers in 27 minutes and 18.142 seconds in the individual time trial, while he emerged as the winner in the road scratch race as well when he took an hour and 26 minutes to traverse across the distance of 61.4 km in Almaty, Kazakhstan.Muhammad WaseemBoxer Muhammad Waseem made his international return with a win in Malta when he defeated Jaba Memishishi in a technical knockout on October 4. He returned to fighting after two gaps and a management change. He lost to Sunny Edwards in 2022, but he wants another shot at the world title. He is striving to hold an international bout in his hometown