19 August 2004	Thursday	02 Rajab 1425

ATHENS, Aug 18: Athens Olympics swimming competition for Pakistani swimmer Mumtaz Ahmad was over on Wednesday after he was eliminated in the 100 metre freestyle heats in 59.19 seconds.

Mumtaz, who never seemed to be in the run for qualification throughout the competition, finished sixth out of seven, ahead of Burundi's Emery Ziyumuira. "I knew that I will not make it. Speaking of Olympic standards, it is a reality that we are far behind other countries," he said after the heats.

However, the Pakistani swimmer, the silver medallist of March's SAF Games organized in Islamabad, said his participation would help him improve his timings for the next year's Games in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Pakistani swimmer Rubab Raza will be in action in 50 metre freestyle heats on Friday. Both, Mumtaz and Rubab, are in Athens on the special invitation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC had specially invited athletes from countries that failed to qualify for the Games. -APP