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| August 22, 2006 | Tuesday | Rajab 26, 1427 |
Weightlifting, squash golds for Pakistan
COLOMBO, Aug 21: Pakistani weightlifters continued their dream run in the South Asian Games competitions by clinching two more gold medals here on Monday.
Commonwealth Games champion and record-holder, Shujauddin Malik won the gold in the 94kg class, creating a new record in jerk while Muhammad Irfan gave Pakistan a gold in the 85kg category.
Usman Akbar (56kgs), Awais Akbar (77kgs) have already won the gold medals for Pakistan in the ongoing Games while Muhammad Ishtiaq Ghafoor and Matiur Rehman have clinched silver medals in 62kg and 69kg.
Shuja lifted a total weight of 320kgs, 140kgs in snatch and 180kgs in jerk to become the overall champion. Sri Lanka’s D. K. R Jayathileke got the silver with 270 kgs and Biddut Kumar Roy of India claimed the bronze, lifting 255kgs.
“I am delighted as it is my second gold in six months after the Commonwealth Games. This is a special moment of my career,” Shuja said, adding that he had also bettered the record in jerk.
Irfan lifted 285kgs (130kg + 155kg) in snatch and jerk to win gold. He was followed by Sri Lankan T. M. UB Jayathileke (267 kgs) and Oyan Shresha of Nepal (266kg).
SQUASH GOLD
Pakistan squash players Mansoor Zaman and Aamir Atlas grabbed gold and silver respectively following an all-Pakistan final at Colombo Gymkhana courts.
Mansoor beat Aamir 9-6,5-9,7-9,9-4,9-0 in an absorbing encounter. But it was not an easy victory for Mansoor as Aamir, after losing the first game, gave his countryman a tough time by winning two games.
Showing some fine fore and back hand shots, Aamir ran out of stamina when Mansoor engaged him in long rallies and placed the ball in both corners to re-establish his supremacy and won the last two games and the match.
“It was a very tough match and I admit that I was not in full control in the third and fourth games, although I took a confident start,” said Mansoor. “But I managed to recover and it is always good to win.”
“It was an interesting match which I enjoyed as both of them fought till the last game,” coach Fahim Gul said.
MEDALS FOR SWIMMERS
In the swimming competitions, Pakistan won the silver and three bronze medals at Sugathadasa Stadium Pool. Pakistan have now bagged seven bronze and three silver medals in swimming.
Out of seven finals contested, India remained at top, putting up another round of splendid show, winning six of the events, while Sri Lanka took one gold.
Eesha Khan gave Pakistan the bronze in the women’s 100m butterfly with a timing of 1.16.29. Indian Lekha Kamath won the gold with 1.04.51, Sri Lankan Miniruwani got the silver (1.11.85).
Pakistani girls dominated the 50m back stroke by taking the silver and bronze. Kiran Khan got the silver (32.25), Rubab getting bronze (33.41) as Indian Fariha Zaman won the gold (31.70).
However, Pakistani girls failed to get any medal in 100m freestyle. India’s Lekha Kamath (1.00.76) was the winner, her teammate Neeraja got the silver.
India won the women 400m individual medley through Varadaraju Tejaswini (5.16.21), Madhavi, also from India, got the silver and Sri Lankan Mayumi Raheem claimed the bronze. Pakistan's Ghulam Sakina got the fourth place.
Nasir Ali claimed Pakistan's third bronze in the men 100m butterfly which was won by Indian Arjum Muralidharan (56.77). Ahmad Jewel of Bangladesh was second (58.89).
Female cyclist wins silver medal
Pakistani female cyclist Raheela Bano gave Pakistan a first-ever silver medal in cycling event when she won the 20 kilometre individual time trial in a timing of 32.48.01. Sri Lankan Sriyalatha Wickramsinghe won the gold with a timing of 31.05.89 while India's Chaoba Devi got the bronze, clocking 32.55.10.
While Raheela was a source of pride, her male colleagues failed. Altogether four Pakistani cyclists took part in the event and Misbah Mushtaq Ali finished at 11th place. Aysha Amin settled at 14th and Arila Ayub at 16th place.
Six member Pakistan men’s team also failed miserably in the 40 kilometres individual time trial in which best performance came from Haroon Rashid who was at fourth place before Sri Lanka clinched all the three medals through Meemanege Perera (gold) 55.16.77, Thushita Dinesh silver ( 57.53.53), and Hemantha Kumara bronze (58.02.90).
PAKISTAN LOSE IN HOCKEY
India outplayed Pakistan 2-0 in the opening hockey tie at Matale.
India led the first half 1-0 and struck another goal in the following session to complete the tally.
Pakistani forwards lacked coordination and finish and never posed a threat to their rivals.
Pakistan will be playing two pool matches now including a must-win game against Bangladesh and another against Sri Lanka.
India stamped its supremacy with the 23rd minute goal when Raghunatch converted a penalty corner with a calculated shot.
Pakistani team management made a few changes but it didn’t work as they failed to equalise. India doubled the lead in the 64th minute when Gujbaj Singh came into action.
Pakistan got some chances in the second session but failed to reduce the margin. “I was not expecting this result,” team manager Saleem Sherwani said, while captain Aamir Saleem said there was no excuse for the defeat. “It was really a bad performance for which we are all responsible and now we have to win both the matches to qualify for the final.”
Maldives beat Pakistan
Maldives surprised defending champions Pakistan with a 3-1 victory in football competition at Sugathadasa Stadium. The defeat was a huge shock for Pakistan who defeated Sri Lanka 1-0 in their opening match.
Pakistan seemed complacent after taking 1-0 lead through captain Essa Khan in the 15th minute.
But it was different for Pakistan in the second half as Ali Ashfaq levelled the score in the 54th minute. Before Pakistan could recover Akram Abdul Ghani netted the second in the 58th minute. —APP
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