GLASGOW: Pakistan’s wrestlers were the country’s main medal hopes at the Commonwealth Games and they did not disappoint.

Qamar Abbas took silver while Azhar Hussain, who won gold in the freestyle and silver in the Greco-Roman competition at the Games in New Delhi four years ago, took bronze in Glasgow as the wrestling competition came to a close on Tuesday.

The medals took Pakistan’s tally to three following Shah Hussain Shah’s silver in judo last week.

In the final wrestling match of the Games, Qamar lost the final of the 74kg category to his Indian rival Sushil Kumar who won the fight in a mere 107 seconds.

MEDALLISTS (L-R) Nigeria’s Ebikweminomo Welson (silver), India’s Amit Kumar Amit (gold), Wales’ Caig Pilling (bronze) and Pakistan’s Azhar Hussain (bronze) pose with their medals.—AFP

He, however, was content with his achievement.

“I’m satisfied with what I’ve achieved,” Qamar told reporters. “I was fasting throughout training and I couldn’t give up fasting [due to Ramazan] for this so I wasn’t at my best.”

Azhar, meanwhile, put a near immaculate display of skills to overthrew his South African opponent Bokang Masunyane out of the wrestling ring within the initial three minutes of their bronze medal match in the 57kg category, winning it by 11 points to 1.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014