No-hopers Pakistan to make up the numbers in Beijing
Karachi: For a nation obsessed with sports, Pakistan has very little to boast about when it comes to the Olympics and even the most optimistic fans see few hopes of any medals in Beijing. Pakistan has won just two medals in individual events—both bronze—in wrestling (Rome 1960) and boxing (Seoul 1988). Its once dominant hockey team meanwhile has finished on the podium eight times but this time they are likely to be making up the numbers. “Our only hopes are from the hockey team, as Pakistan will be featuring in the other three disciplines through wild card entries and has no chances of winning any medal,” said Pakistan Olympic Association President Arif Hasan.
Besides a 16-member hock ey team, Pakistan is sending two athletes (male and female), two swimmers (male and female) and one shooter—all on wild cards—in a contingent of 37, including 16 officials.
But Pakistan, who boast four world and three Olympic titles, are no longer contenders. Having won hockey golds in Rome (1960), Mexico (1968) and Los Angeles (1984), Pakistan’s last Olympic hockey medal was a bronze in the Barcelona Olympics 16 years ago.
Pakistan won a boxing bronze at Seoul through Hussain Shah but although their pugilists have regularly qualified for the Olympics since then they have come home empty-handed. Wrestler Mohammad Bashir won a bronze in the 1960 Olympics but the sport has slipped into obscurity in Pakistan, where cricket has surpassed hockey as the national obsession. Swimmer Kiran Khan and athlete Sadaf Siddiqui are the two females in Pakistan’s contingent, but both have modest ambitions.
Sadaf, a sprinter, is likely to run in the 100 or 200 meters as wild card entrants are allowed to compete in only one event. She too realises the enormity of the task.
“For me mere competing is an honour, so I will try to keep my head high because the Olympic spirit is all about competing,” said Sadaf.