|
|
|
| August 24, 2006 | Thursday | Rajab 28, 1427 |
Cycling, wushu gold medals for Pakistan in Games
COLOMBO, Aug 23: Pakistan excelled in the martial arts discipline, wushu, on Wednesday by winning two gold, three silver and one bronze medals at 10th South Asian Games at the Joseph College Sports Complex.
The visitors were not expected to make a huge impact in wushu when they arrived in Colombo last week but they stunned the spectators with a fine show in Games.
Pakistan claimed the gold medals in San Shou event through Syed Murtab Ali in 60-65kg category who beat his Sri Lanka opponent convincingly. Ejaz Ahmad Butt knocked out another Sri Lankan rival to clinch gold gold in the 70-75kg category.
Among the female athletes, Asma Akram won a silver medal in San Shou event. The other male silver medallists were Zakir Hussain who outplayed his rival from Nepal, and Mohammad Bashir who outpointed his Sri Lankan opponent.
Mohammad Imran also proved too good against an India’s Rassal who settled for a bronze. “Good training by two Chinese coaches and hard work by players brought us success in wushu,” said team manager Iftikhar Malik.
CYCLING GOLD
Pakistani men and women cyclists put up an impressive show to win a gold and a bronze in the cycling championships. In the men’s 40 kilometre team time trial, Pakistan team comprising Malik Mohammad Bashir, Haroon Rashid, Dilsher Ali and Asmat Ali clocked 1.8.38.15 to win the gold.
Sri Lanka finished with silver, while India settled for bronze. Afghanistan took the fourth place.
Pakistani women cyclists earned their country a bronze in the 30 kilometre time trial which was won by Sri Lankan team followed by India.
It was Pakistan's second medal in cycling after Raheela Bano led the country to a silver medal in the women 20 kilometre individual time trial.
GOLD IN KARATE
Ghulam Ali gave Pakistan the first karate gold when he outclassed his opponent in individual kata. Sri Lanka got the silver medal.
PAKISTAN THRASH BHUTAN
Pakistan thrashed Bhutan 4-0 to qualify for the football semi-finals in the Games. The winners needed three-goal victory against Bhutan to reach the last four stage. Pakistan will now face Nepal in the semi-final on Thursday. India will meet Sri Lanka in the other semi-final.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in the opener before being beaten 3-1 by Maldives. Striker Shahid Ahmad was the pick of the Pakistani attack on Wedneday and struck two fine goals while Adeel Ahmad and captain Essa Khan found the cage once.
Swimmers bag three more medals
Pakistan's campaign in the swimming event came to an end as male swimmers failed to end gold medal drought, finishing with five silver and 15 bronze medals at Sughathadasa Sports Complex.
On the final day of the event when seven finals were contested, Pakistani swimmers earned a silver and three bronze medals. Sana Wahid claimed the silver in the 50m butterfly and Kiran Khan won a bronze medal in the 200m free style. Pakistan women team won a bronze medal in the 400m medley relay. Male swimmer Nisar Ahmad grabbed a bronze in the 400m individual medley. India won five more gold medals to finish with a total of 32 gold medals.
FIVE BRONZE IN TT CONTESTS
Pakistan rounded off the table tennis event, claiming five bronze medals on St.Thomas indoor hall. India won the competition with seven gold, four silver and one bronze medal. Sri Lanka with three silver and six bronze medals bagged the second place whereas Pakistan finished third. Nepal with two bronze medals were at fourth place.
Pakistan won one bronze medal each in men's team event, men's singles, men's doubles, women singles and women team event. —APP
|
|
|
|
