Pak wrestlers set to light up SAG

KARACHI: Wrestling has been the most effective and medal-winning sport of Pakistan over the years. And the national grapplers are expected to impress in the 13th South Asian Games which will begin in Nepal from December 1.

Pakistan is fielding seven wrestlers in the biennial event and two officials. The wrestling squad will proceed to Kathmandu on December 3. The draws will be held on December 5 and the event will be conducted from December 6-9.

In the last SAG in India in 2016, Pakistan had lifted two gold, four silver and one bronze but this time a senior official of Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF) expects four gold medals from his squad.

“This time I expect four gold medals,” PWF secretary Arshad Sattar told ‘The News’ on Wednesday. The country’s highly experienced wrestler Mohammad Inam, Youth Olympics bronze medallist Inayatullah and Inam’s cousin Mohammad Bilal will be centre of attraction in the competitions.

However, Pakistani wrestlers may face tough time from Indian wrestlers as India has improved a lot in the sport.

Squad: Mohammad Bilal (61kg), Inayatullah (70kg), Abdul Rehman (79kg), Umair Ahmad (86kg), Mohammad Inam Butt (92kg), Tayyab Raza (97kg), Zaman Anwar (125kg), Officials: Sohail Rashid (coach), Saqlain Zahoor Raja (manager), Arshad Sattar (secretary PWF), Mohammad Riaz and Mohammad Anwar (both referees).