Anum Bandey and Israr Hussain: Pakistan's designated swimmers at the London 2012 Olympic Games - Photo courtesy Pakistan Swimming Federation
Anum Bandey and Israr Hussain: Pakistan's designated swimmers at the London 2012 Olympic Games - Photo courtesy Pakistan Swimming Federation

KARACHI: Pakistan is set to make waves in the Olympic pool after two of its swimmers received confirmation to participate in the Olympic Games, according to a statement released by the Pakistan Swimming Federation (PSF) on Friday.

The international body for aquatic sports, FINA, has selected Anum Bandey and Israr Hussain of Pakistan on the basis of their performance in the 14th FINA World Championships, held in Shanghai last year. The allotment has been made on the ‘Universality Places,’ berths reserved for countries whose athletes are unable to qualify for the Games.

Husain, who clocked 57.69 seconds in Shanghai, will participate in the 100-metre freestyle heats. Bandey, who set a new national record at 5 minutes and 37.11 seconds, will feature in the 400-metre individual medley at the London Games.

Bandey will look to improve on the performance of her predecessor Kiran Khan, who represented Pakistan at the Games in Beijing in 2008. She will be the third Pakistani female swimmer to make waves at the Games after Khan and Rubab Raza, who made Olympic history for Pakistan by becoming the country’s first female Olympic swimmer at Athens in 2004.

Hussain was named the best male athlete at last year’s National Swimming Championship in Islamabad.

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...