Pakistan pinning hopes on lifters, wrestlers

ISLAMABAD: The XXI Commonwealth Games will be held in Gold Coast (Australia) from April 4-15 and Pakistan is looking to its weightlifters and wrestlers to earn glory.

A detailed scrutiny conducted by ‘The News’ on the hopes and expectations from the 87-member contingent reveals that weightlifting and wrestling look like the only two disciplines in which Pakistan seems to have a chance of winning medals. The two traditional sports have been earning laurels for the country in the recent past and the trend is expected to continue.

Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWF) Secretary Amjad Amin Butt believes each weightlifter has a good chance of winning medals. “Look, when we see the weights they have been lifting in snatch and clean and jerk, we can easily say that every weightlifter in the team has the potential to win a medal in Gold Coast,” he said.

The weightlifters with a bright chance of even winning a gold medal include Mohammad Noor Dastagir Butt (plus 105kg) and Talha Talib (62kg). “These two start as favourites to earn laurels for the country. They can repeat the feat achieved by Shujauddin Malik in the 2006 Commonwealth Games also held in Australia.”

Malik won the 85kg gold and was the only Pakistani athlete to achieved that distinction in the 2006 event.Besides Noor and Talha, Abu Sufyan (69kg), Usman Amjad Rathore (94kg) and Abdullah Ghafoor (56kg) are also potential medal winners.

“All five weightlifters are training hard and have achieved their weight limit which will help them perform well,” Amjad said.The Pakistan wrestling team is training and competing in Iran these days under the watchful eyes of expert trainers and coaches.

There is no better wrestler equipped with the talent to win a medal than Mohammad Inam — the World Beach Games gold medallist. Inam, who will compete in the 86kg category, has proved his mettle time and again. He is ready to earn another distinction.

“No doubt he is a quality wrestler and can make Pakistan proud in the Games. Mohammad Bilal (57kg) is not far behind. He is equally good and talented. It all depends on the draw,” Pakistan Wrestling Federation Secretary Mohammad Arshad Sattar told ‘The News’. “Abdul Wahab, Mohammad Asad Butt, Umair Ahmad and Tayyab Raza can also spring surprises.”

Shooting could be another sport in which Pakistan can finish on the podium. Aamir Iqbal, Ghufran Adil and Mohammad Khalil Akhtar are capable of delivering on their day in the shooting range.

Athletics and hockey could be the biggest disappointments in Gold Coast. Though Pakistan in the recent past has not performed well in athletics, in the hockey tournament it could be Pakistan’s worst showing. Pakistan’s chances in hockey need separate analysis which will be done shortly.