KATHMANDU: Star wrestler Inam Butt, squash player Tayyab Aslam, weightlifters Nooh Datagir Butt and his brother Hanzala, and the handball team won gold medals at the South Asian Games on Sunday, taking Pakistan’s tally up to 29.

Inam overcame Nepal’s Summit Kumar in the 92kg final, having been down 4-6 in the first round. “I used the double leg technique to finish the game,” Inam said.

Inam’s compatriots Mohammad Bilal and Umair Butt won silver medals; both losing to Indian opponents in the finals of the 61kg and 86kg respectively.

In the squash court, Tayyab Aslam swatted aside India’s Harindar Pal Singh in the men’s squash final. Tayyab lost first set 8-11, but bounced back strongly to win next three sets 11-3, 11-8 and 11-8.

Fellow Pakistan squash player Farhan Mehboob earned bronze; as did women players Madina Zafar and Faiza Zafar.

The Dastagir brothers were imperious in the weightlifting arena — Nooh winning the +109kg contest after lifting a total weight of 380kg and Hanzala coming on top in the 109kg event after lifting 331kg.

The handball team added another gold to the tally, beating India 30-29 in a nail-biting final.

Elsewhere, shooter Gulfam Joseph won silver medal for Pakistan in 10 metre Air Pistol men’s individual event.

At the tennis court, Pakistan got two bronze medals in the mixed doubles event through the parings of Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi with Ushna Suhail and Mohammad Abid with Sara Mansoor.

Boxers Naqeebullah and Mahmood ul Hassan also won bronze medals in their respective categories. As did their female compatriots Razia Bano, Mehreen, and Rukhsana Parveen.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2019