Pak weightlifters win 8 golds at Asian Masters Championship
The members of Pakistan team pose with their medals at the Asian Weightlifting Masters Championship 2025. PHOTO COURTESY: PMWA
Pakistani weightlifters grabbed eight gold medals, at the inaugural Asian Masters Weightlifting Championships that concluded in Doha on May 31.
The weightlifters bagged 11 medals in total.
This was a 100 percent result for Pakistan. The Pakistan Masters Weightlifting Association (PMWA) fielded a squad of 11 athletes, including three women.
The championship was featuring 145 athletes from 25 countries, with the biggest contingent coming from Iran.
"It has been the best performance we could look for because we really couldn't predict the results as this was just the first edition of the Asian Masters Championships," the PMWA secretary Rashed Malik told this correspondent.
"We formed this association because we understand that our athletes and the country need international events, so we can participate in them and also host them and that adds to the economy of the country as well.
"But mostly, we are independent of the Pakistan Olympic Association, the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation, etc.
"Our body is affiliated with the International Masters Weightlifting Association, which used to be a part of the International Weightlifting Federation but after the mutual understanding and the consent of the main world body, the new organisation was formed to help the weightlifters who were retired, or veterans, or who are 30-years and above to compete.
"Because there have been many cases where weightlifters ended up dying young as they were not getting the activity they needed once they left the professional sphere."
Currently, the PMWA is in the process of getting affiliation with the Pakistan Sports Board and the ministry.
Meanwhile, the resounding success of the athletes will only help further the cause.
Among women, Sybil Sohail won the gold medal in 59 Kg.
Nadia Maqsood (87 Kg category) was also declared the best women's weightlifter of the 1st Asian Masters Weightlifting Championships with another gold medal for Pakistan.
Among men, Rasheed Khan won the gold medal in 89 Kg.
Kashif Rehan was declared the winner in M-45 102 Kg. Maqsood Amjad Rathore was the gold medallist in 96 kg, and Furqan Anwar was the winner of the 89 Kg M-30 category.
Muhammad Iqbal won the gold medal in the 102 Kg M-35 event, and Umer Rasool Lone got the title of the 96 Kg M-35 category.
The remaining two athletes received bronze medals, Abdul Malik in the 109 Kg M-50 event and Usman Amjad Rathore in the 109 Kg M-35 category.
Malik also emphasised that PMWA athletes, like those from Balochistan, get the chance to compete again as they are often left behind due to systemic issues in Pakistani sport.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Muhammad Abbas, Pakistani-origin cricketer, gets central contract by New Zealand for 2025-26
Pakistani-born all-rounder Muhammad Abbas has been awarded a central contract by New Zealand Cricket for the 2025–26 season, marking a significant milestone in his rising international career. The Lahore-born cricketer is one of four new faces on the Black Caps' centrally contracted list, joining Mitch Hay, Zak Foulkes and Adithya Ashok. His inclusion highlights New Zealand's commitment to nurturing emerging talent through a diverse and inclusive pathway system. Abbas, a left-handed batter and right-arm medium-pacer, rose to prominence earlier this year during his One-Day International debut against Pakistan—the country of his birth. He scored a blistering 52 off just 26 deliveries, setting a new record for the fastest half-century by a debutant in men's ODIs. Having migrated to New Zealand as a child, Abbas developed his cricketing abilities through the country's structured age-group and domestic circuits. His rapid rise underscores both his personal work ethic and the effectiveness of New Zealand's development framework. The 21-year-old is expected to play a key role in the Black Caps' preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for next February. His dual skill set with bat and ball makes him a valuable asset in the national setup. 'Muhammad's fearless approach and adaptability stood out,' said a spokesperson from New Zealand Cricket. 'He brings fresh energy to the team and embodies the spirit of modern New Zealand cricket.' This year's contract list reflects a generational shift, with a blend of established names and rising stars, reinforcing the board's long-term vision. While Abbas' name may be new to some fans, it is likely to feature more prominently in the years ahead.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Sticks to stardom
Remember a time when your happiness was directly linked to cricket? Fortunately for those whose mood is entirely dependent on the sporting achievements of others, cricket no longer has to bear that burden alone. Now, thanks to Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, Pakistani glory and joy is best channelled through the man's right arm, as the athlete spearheaded his way to another gold medal in the men's javelin final with an 86.40m throw at the Asian Athletics Championship in Gumi, South Korea on Saturday. As Arshad proved in spades during the Paris 2024 Olympics, powering his way to golden glory following an epic 92.7m toss of his javelin, he has become a mascot for national pride. With an inevitable rendition of Dil Dil Pakistan (our de facto shot of joy) echoing through the stadium as South Korea's small Pakistani community cheered him on, the wave of tears and celebrations spreading throughout Arshad's hometown of Mian Channu showcased his already cemented heroic status. Arshad has done what few other Pakistani sportsmen have managed: he has proved that the Olympic victory that catapulted him to global fame last year was no shot-in-the-dark fluke. Becoming the first Pakistani in 50 years to win a gold medal at the Asian Asian Athletics Championship, Arshad's latest achievement has spread a warm glow of contentment in its wake as the rest of the country shares in the vicarious joys of one man. It will come as little surprise that a handful of celebrities, too, have entered the fray as they ping congratulatory messages for Pakistan's athlete of the hour on social media. Celebs say well done Barzakh star Sanam Saeed took to her Instagram Stories to post a screenshot of Arshad's winning shot, tagging in the athlete and adding just one word: "Hero". Not to be outdone, Sanam's husband, actor and director Mohib Mirza, also registered his praise, taking to IG Stories to offer his own congratulations in Urdu as he penned, "Salaam hai, Bhai." Continuing in Urdu, he added, "Amazing!" With IG Stories clearly being the preferred medium of choice and short and sweet being the motto, actor-singer Azaan Sami Khan posted a similar victorious photo of Arshad socials. Unlike Sanam and Mohib, Azaan did not use words; instead, he relied on a simple crown emoji underneath as he, along with the rest of the nation, metaphorically labelled Arshad the undisputed king of javelin. If a picture says a thousand words, so can an emoji. Proving that the javelin has well and truly entered the popular consciousness, possibly overtaking cricket for however long Arshad's career continues, singer-songwriter Farhan Saeed also turned to IG Stories to publicly mark his pride at the sportsman's latest milestone. Pasting a screenshot of a sports headline, Farhan's post read, "Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem wins gold at [the] Asian Athletics Championship, defeating Indian competitor in [the] men's javelin final." The musician sealed his post with just one more word that summed it all up: "Congratulations." As the icing on the cake, the Maula singer added a Pakistani flag emoji. Everyone else joins in Before the 2024 Paris Olympics, you would have been hard pressed to find a bystander knowing or caring enough about the javelin beyond the fact that it is a large, heavy pointy stick – but of course, Arshad changed all that with one mighty throw and awakened a frenzy in a country where frenzy was typically reserved for team sports, and not track and field. Now, of course, all it takes is one post from Arshad himself for a newfound crew of javelin lovers to flood social media with their words of praise. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, Arshad himself posted a reel of his performance and wrote, "This victory belongs to the Almighty first - His blessings, His will. Without His grace, none of this would be possible." Remembering to thank his crew and loved ones not unlike any athlete would in a post-victory press conference (for social media has surely become an extension of press conferences for any successful athlete), Arshad remembered to add, "To my coaches, my team, my family, and every Pakistani who prayed for methis medal is yours. Your support fuels my journey. Let's keep rising for our beloved nation! Insha'Allah, more to come." Racking up over 114,000 likes in just a day on Instagram (and over 19,000 hearts on X), the comments section of Arshad's posts are now replete with messages of congratulations from his followers. "Pakistan's Ronaldo," penned one fan fondly, as another wrote on X, "What a legend. Congratulations." Pinning all hopes for the country on Arshad's capable shoulders (or rather, his right arm), yet another fan on Instagram noted, "King never disappoints us. You are inspiring multiple generations with the accolades you bring to your nation." A dig at India With Arshad's direct opponent, Sachin Yadav of India, walking away with a silver medal, it would be inconceivable that no one would bring up this irresistibly juicy fact in the comments section – although the highlight should go to one refreshingly un-salty Indian fan intent on spreading positivity. "Arshad Nadeem is number 1, with love from India!" wrote the fan alongside an Indian flag emoji. "Finally Indians have admitted that they lost the war," added another fan, unable to resist bringing up the events of May still fresh in everyone's minds. Predictably, Pakistani fans, with their expertise in using memes to extract maximum hilarity in any situation, rose to the occasion – yes, even here where no humour was needed to act as a bandaid. The "disappointed cricket fan" meme (featuring the infamously appalled man in a chequered shirt and gilet turning away in disgust) made its usual appearance in Arshad's comments section, with a fan added the explanatory caption (in case you missed it), "The entire Indian community right now." Is it fair to hold one man – Arshad – responsible for collective national happiness? As any cricketer will tell you, there is only one answer here (and it is not "yes"). But what nobody can dispute is that king of javelin throwers that he is, Arshad aims for the heart of the nation. And so far, he hasn't missed.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Pak rowing team bags 10 gold in Asian event
Members of Pakistan rowing team pose for a group photo after their outstanding performance in the Asian Indoor Rowing Championship in Pattaya. PHOTO: APP In an absolutely amazing performance that marks a new era for rowing in Pakistan, the national indoor rowing team secured a remarkable 14 medals including 10 gold at the Asian Indoor Rowing Championship held in Pattaya, Thailand. Competing against 25 countries, the underdog Pakistani squad stunned traditional powerhouses such as India, Iran, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan, proudly raising the national flag and making the national anthem echo across the international arena. Despite being a small contingent, the Pakistani rowers delivered an outstanding performance that defied expectations. The Pakistan Rowing Federation, along with other sports stakeholders, gave the athletes a grand welcome upon their return. They also appealed to the federal government, the Pakistan Sports Board, and the Punjab Sports Board to organize a ceremony in the team's honor and reward the athletes with cash prizes as a gesture of appreciation. President of the Pakistan Rowing Federation, Hamdan Nazir, and Chairman Rizwan-ul-Haq praised the players' exceptional performance, stating that Pakistan's rowing athletes are now ready to compete - and succeed - at the global level. They urged both the federal and Punjab governments to extend full support and patronage to the sport of rowing.
