KARACHI: India-bound Pakistan’s athletics squad coach Asghar Ali Gill said on Tuesday that the 2010 South Asian Games fastest athlete Naseem Hameed would be direly missed in the 12th South Asian Games which start in India on Friday.
“Naseem is pride of the nation and no doubt her absence will be felt in India,” Asghar told ‘The News’ in an interview from Islamabad.
Naseem from Karachi shot to fame when she unexpectedly pulled off a gold medal in 100m sprint in 2010 Dhaka South Asian Games by clocking 11.81 seconds of timing. She was extended a historic welcome on her return to the country.
The achievement changed her entire life. She could have featured in the next SAG in 2012 but it could not be held due to some reasons.
The forthcoming SAG are being conducted after six years. As per rules it is necessary to organise the Games after every two years.
Asghar admitted that there was no female athlete in the current lot who could match Naseem or former Olympian sprinter Sadaf Siddiqui.
“Both Naseem and Sadaf had been picked by me from school and trained. They were extremely talented,” Asghar recalled.
However, he said that he was hopeful that the current female lot would perform well in the event.
“We will field seven female athletes and I hope they will fight for silver and bronze medals,” Asghar said.
The seven-member women squad includes Olympian Rabia Ashiq.
Tall, lengthy Rabia was part of Pakistan’s squad in the 2012 London Olympics.
She is a fine athlete and is expected to impress in her favourite 800m and 1500m events. Saheb-e-Asra (100m, 200m), Najma Pervez (400m hurdles), Maria Maratab (100m hurdles), Samabia (800m, 1500m), Sumaira Tayyaba (400m relay, 100m hurdles) and Hiba (4X100m relay) are the others in Pakistan’s squad.
However, the 20-member men squad includes some fine athletes and Asghar expects gold medals from some of them. “We have good chance for gold medal in 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 800m and 1500m,” Asghar said.
Mohsin Ali and Mohammad Nawaz will fight for gold medal in 110m hurdles. Naukar Hussain and his brother Mehboob Ali will battle for the top honours in the 400m hurdles.
Mohammad Ikram and Mohammad Ali will challenge their rivals in 800m and 1500m.
Shakeel Ahmed (hammer-throw) and Arshad Nadeem (javelin throw) are the other fine prospects.
“All the athletes are motivated and I hope they will deliver their best,” Asghar said.
He said if the government focused on athletics, Pakistan could produce Asian and world level athletes. “There is no dearth of talent in Pakistan but there is a need for support from the government,” Asghar said.
Athletics Federation of Pakistan’s (AFP) secretary Mohammad Zafar told this correspondent that good work had been done on the mental strength of the athletes. “The athletes have been motivated a lot and we expect good results from them,” Zafar said. The athletics squad will fly out of Islamabad for Guwahati on February 6.