Wrestler Bilal wins bronze medal at Commonwealth Games

E-Paper | May 03, 2026

Wrestler Bilal wins bronze medal at Commonwealth Games

Zeeshan Ahmed Published April 12, 2018

GOLD COAST: Pakistan’s Muhammad Bilal (L) wrestles with England’s George Ramm to win Bronze medal in men’s freestyle 57Kg wrestling at the Commonwealth Games on Thursday.—AP

Gujranwala's Mohammad Bilal became the third Pakistani athlete to win a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2018 after he defeated English wrestler George Ramm by 3:1 classification points in the 57kg category of men's freestyle wrestling on Thursday.

Pakistan's Mohammad Bilal competing against England's George Ramm. — Photo courtesy: Commonwealth Games

The 22-year-old wrestler had earlier defeated Malta's Gary Giordmaina and Sri Lanka's Divoshan Charles Fernando. He, however, had lost to India's Rahul Aware, who went on to clinch the gold medal.

The other two Pakistani athletes who won medals at the Games — 18-year-old Talha Talib and 20-year-old Noor Dastagir — also hail from Gujranwala.

Talib was the first athlete from Pakistan to win a medal in the 2018 Games — that are underway in Australia's Gold Coast — after he lifted 283kg in a weightlifting category of 62kg.

Dastagir, who participated in the +105kg category, lifted a total of 395kg to win a bronze medal.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Weightlifter Talib bags Pakistan's first medal in Commonwealth Games

Nooh Dastagir Butt wins Pakistan's second bronze medal of Commonwealth Games 2018

Malaysia hold Pakistan 1-1 as both teams bow out of hockey semi-final race at CW Games

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Apr 12, 2018 03:14pm

Welcome to the club of medal winners in the 2018 Common Wealth Games in Australia. Keep it up and hang on tough.

Recommend 0

Kailash Singh

Apr 12, 2018 03:16pm

Congratulations. All the 3 medals came from athletes from Gujranwala. Could someone throw light on the reason behind it?

Recommend 0

Surya Kant

Apr 12, 2018 03:17pm

Heartiest congratulations. Keep winning.

Recommend 0

Majid Khan

Apr 12, 2018 03:18pm

Inshallah...... Congratulations..... Inshallah, we will be victor in every field of life very soon!!!

Recommend 0

dost

Apr 12, 2018 03:21pm

congratulations.

Recommend 0

ROCKY

Apr 12, 2018 03:26pm

Who won Gold? :)

Recommend 0

Sachin Tandon

Apr 12, 2018 03:29pm

Congrats for winning Bronze. Keep it up.

Recommend 0

Iklakh

Apr 12, 2018 03:47pm

conragts 3 medals in bronze hope we can have gold All the best

Recommend 0

BhaRAT

Apr 12, 2018 04:18pm

Some people from a Insecure country will now brag how much they’ve won when we’re not even Intrepid knowing that

Recommend 0

dost

Apr 12, 2018 04:19pm

congratulations to victorious but advise for politicians and society.sports is integral part of healthy and growing life.so without partiality support all sports.spend on infrastructure and incentive to athletes.small countries in geography, population, resources are doing much better.

Recommend 0

Dravida Nadu

Apr 12, 2018 04:19pm

Congratulations respect from dravida Nadu

Recommend 0

LILLY

Apr 12, 2018 04:47pm

@Dravida Nadu You mean Karnataka? Because Karnataka is the real dravida nadu.

Recommend 0

Shiva

Apr 12, 2018 05:04pm

Congratulations.........but overall performance of pakistan is not as per expectations. In CWG, we stand nowhere against our neighbour. Need tremendous improvements in the field of sports.

Recommend 0

Human first

Apr 12, 2018 05:06pm

@ROCKY good question ??

Recommend 0

dynamite

Apr 12, 2018 05:10pm

Many Many congratulations...with this medal Pakistan has attained rank 31 out of total 39

Recommend 0

Bobby

Apr 12, 2018 05:17pm

@ROCKY It says in the article,even though it is just a passing remark.

Recommend 0

Khurram

Apr 12, 2018 05:23pm

Great show.

Recommend 0

vinay

Apr 12, 2018 05:24pm

After they return, they should be inspirations and mentor for other young athletes. Congratulations.

Recommend 0

UnshacklePak

Apr 12, 2018 05:53pm

@Kailash Singh I believe there's an old wrestling tradition in Gujranwala. It's known as the city of wrestlers.

Recommend 0

point of view

Apr 12, 2018 05:55pm

Overall, poor performance by Pakistan in CWG 2018.

Recommend 0

A shah

Apr 12, 2018 06:13pm

Proof we are a super power

Recommend 0

Umar Bhurgari

Apr 12, 2018 06:20pm

Congratulations to entire nation. It's a big win

Recommend 0

Aslam Qadri

Apr 12, 2018 06:20pm

Next time AIM high & celebrate only Gold, there are countries insignificant in size, economy and population but Rich with the Gold Medals at CWG.

Recommend 0

DARA KHAN

Apr 12, 2018 06:35pm

Bravo !

Recommend 0

citizen

Apr 12, 2018 06:38pm

Pakistan with a population of 200 million plus, has won only 3 bronze medals. Smaller countries with less than one tenth the population has won more medals than us. We as a nation do not give any importance to sport and human resources.

Recommend 0

Himmat

Apr 12, 2018 06:48pm

@Shiva Protest to game organizers to maintain balance.

Recommend 0

shashi

Apr 12, 2018 06:56pm

@BhaRAT . You are mistaken. No one here is interested in comparing with countries with lower medals. The sports associations here are thinking what they should do to close the gap with countries with higher medal tally. We are aware the gap is large, but work is on. I assume that is what your sports associations are also doing.

Recommend 0

Shoaib,proud Indian

Apr 12, 2018 07:05pm

@dynamite Appreciate. Your information is right.

Recommend 0

alla bux

Apr 12, 2018 07:06pm

In 57 KG freestyle, India won the Gold, Canada won the Silver and we shared the Bronze with Nigeria. Congratulations to all.

Recommend 0

Frustrated Pakistani

Apr 12, 2018 07:09pm

When will Pakistan win Gold?

Recommend 0

Mohanlal

Apr 12, 2018 07:52pm

In a mega event, winning a medal is great aspect.Congratulation to Pakistan from India

Recommend 0

Singh

Apr 12, 2018 08:37pm

@Kailash Singh Historically Gujranwala has been known for wrestling from ancient times. Gujranwala is also home town of Maharaja of Punjab Sher-e-Punjab Ranjit Singh.

Recommend 0

dost

Apr 12, 2018 08:37pm

@ASLAM.QUADRI if you want to tack inspiration take from which are above you and wants to satisfy look smaller one.freind there are many countries which are smaller and poor but we'll ahead in medal tally.its only sports culture, infrastructure and over obsession about cricket only.otherwise no shortage of resources and talent.

Recommend 0

Raja Parekh

Apr 12, 2018 09:11pm

A little more efforts and super power will be ahead of Uganda and Botswana.

Recommend 0

Faqdoo Miyan

Apr 12, 2018 09:32pm

Congratulations Pakistan for winning the third medal.

Recommend 0

charlie

Apr 12, 2018 09:36pm

Congratulation guys. Great showing.

Recommend 0

Lohpurush

Apr 12, 2018 09:43pm

Good News. Sports is a constructive way of engaging youth away from drugs , terrorism and depression. The countries who do well economically tebd to do better in sports. China , US are powerhouse of sports with best facilities. At this hour , India is standing 3rd position with 36 medals including 14 gold. Australia leads with 156 medals.

Recommend 0

Agrarian

Apr 12, 2018 09:57pm

@Kailash Gujranwala is known as the city of wrestlers and has a history of producing great wrestlers and athletes.

Recommend 0

Qalander

Apr 12, 2018 10:13pm

@Kailash Singh Gujrawaala is the city of pehlwaans

Recommend 0

Raja Amer Khan

Apr 12, 2018 10:19pm

@Kailash Singh Gujranwala is famous for its food. Hence the result :D

Recommend 0

Balram Sharma

Apr 12, 2018 10:21pm

Well done Pakistan...

Recommend 0

ABHIJEET

Apr 12, 2018 10:22pm

Congratulations all 3 of you!!! In 1958 India Won 1 gold and 2 sliver total 3 medals. Considering this numbers Pakistan is 60 years behind in sports than India... Government need to be very serious about this... India's sport minister is a sport person and won Olympic Gold.... a non-political person... so this shows how serious India is in sport... Do not take it in wrong way... just telling the facts by example

Recommend 0

Apr 12, 2018 11:16pm

Congratulations another success from tiny Gujranwala. Perhaps we should train all our athletes in Gujranwala and pay the coaches professional international level salaries to recognise how much they have delivered in positively supporting and training young people and got putting Pakistan's name positively in the headlines.

Recommend 0

MOUZA ALI

Apr 13, 2018 12:01am

Winning three bronze medals is not a mean feat for a country like ours. We must win more such medals and our athletes and participants will do us pride, Inshallah.

Recommend 0

Wahab

Apr 13, 2018 12:51am

Mind blowing performance by Bilal. Bravo!

Recommend 0

Reader

Apr 13, 2018 02:54am

Has any one noticed that all medal winners (for this edition of Games) hail from Gujranwala ? They must be doing something 'right'. Well done to the boys and all the very best for them in the future.

Recommend 0

Reader

Apr 13, 2018 02:56am

@Kailash Singh: I would like to ask the same. Gujranwala, the city of wrestlers has always been a 'warm' city. To see people win medals is a touch above. Well done to them.

Recommend 0

Abdul Rahman Jan

Apr 13, 2018 03:34am

Well done Gujranwala ! This town seems to be doing us proud.

Recommend 0

Abdul Rahman Jan

Apr 13, 2018 03:38am

@Kailash Singh - traditionally, Gujranwala has remained an ancient center of traditional 'pehlwani' and there are still many 'akhaars' there. Also, some folk Punjabi sports like 'Kabbadi' etc are played in the surrounding areas (rural) with typical Punjabi zeal and gusto. In more recent times, since British rule (around 1940s onward) there has also been increased interest in weightlifting and boxing and also other non-desi style of wrestling . The people tend to be diet conscious and healthy and quite athletic, too, generally. I believe all these reasons have contributed in making Gujranwala a developing center for certain sports in Pakistan. It's sad that nearby Lahore city, which also used to share many of these sport interests, has declined.

Recommend 0

Mahen

Apr 13, 2018 05:26am

3 Bronze medals!!!!! WOW Congratulations!

Recommend 0

Shiraz

Apr 13, 2018 10:01am

It seems Gujarawal is Haryana (India) of Pakistan as all winner wrestlers are from Gujarawala.

Recommend 0

Manoj

Apr 13, 2018 10:24am

Congratulations Pakistan on winning your 3rd bronze medal.

Recommend 0

tufan

Apr 13, 2018 11:57am

@ABHIJEET bro your sport minister wins silver not gold chek your fact

Recommend 0

adnan

Apr 13, 2018 01:23pm

@Lohpurush I disagree, economic power does mean translating more money for training and other sports infrastructure, however, Pakistan for atleast 50 years was wining medals and world cups in different sports even though the sports men or the government was not rich like there european counterparts. For eg our first british open winner won in 1951 having done it without wearing any shoes. Same goes for hockey and football and athletics. We were on top for 50 years in squash and hockey untill the year 2000. The current scenario is that we have corrupt politicians who have positioned corrupt officials in posts who are damaging everything and our reputation. If you dont have those who are the right person for the right job you will never get the desired results.

Recommend 0

Mandy

Apr 13, 2018 04:15pm

Looks like Gujranwala is Haryana of Pakistan!!!

Recommend 0

Sumeet , Delhi

Apr 13, 2018 08:16pm

Cyprus a country of 11.6 lakh people has won 8 gold medals. Its high time India and pakistan start focussing the energy of youth into sports. We need more heroes..

Recommend 0

riz1

Apr 14, 2018 01:18am

@BhaRAT "Some people from a Insecure country will now brag how much they’ve won when we’re not even Intrepid knowing that" Come on dude.. We Pakistanis should give credit where its due. Kudos to India for making it their biggest ever CWG medal heist to date - medals in the forties till now with 17 golds. Good portents for India to making it bigger in the next tournament and we should learn from their successes. Pakistan zindabad.

Recommend 0

Raja

Apr 14, 2018 02:02am

@adnan footbal and athletics? Are you sure? Asian used to be good in field hockey when hardly any countries played it. We always ducked in sports and it had all to do with economics. With proper support any talent can be turned into a champion, simple as that.

Recommend 0

Asrar

Apr 14, 2018 03:39am

India's economic success is spelling out in sports - they used to win lesser medals - now they are doing good at CWG, AG and OG! We used to have a good boxing team at Asian and CWG levels - but the current home problems causing this dismal performance! Both Sri Lanka & Bangladesh are ahead of us on medals table.

Recommend 0

Be honest

Apr 14, 2018 07:44am

@Kailash Singh Gujranawala is known as the city of wrestlers. There are many Kabbadi grounds and youngsters are trained at very young age. Most of the famous pehelwans (wrestlers) are from Gujranawala too.

Recommend 0

Eleven Jinping

Apr 14, 2018 10:03am

We need to appreciate the skill and hard work of the individual. Doesn't matter if it's 3rd bronze or 50th gold.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expands climate action with one Million Tree Drive and forest reforms

The province is turning policy into action through a series of large scale programmes aimed at rebuilding ecosystems and improving resilience against rising climate pressures.

Taptap Send, Arshad Nadeem partner to highlight Pakistan’s unsung champions

The initiative comes at a time when cricket continues to dominate national attention, often overshadowing achievements in other sports.

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.