KARACHI: Pakistan’s young athlete Shajar Abbas has set a new national record in 100-metres race at the 31st Qosanov Memorial Inter­national Athletics Champ­ionships in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Saturday.

According to information received here, the 22-year-old Shajar performed impressively to complete the 100-metre heat in 10.38 seconds, breaking the Pakistan record of 10.42 seconds set by Afzal Baig at the 2005 Islamic Games staged in Makkah.

The Sahiwal-based Shajar in the process qualified for the 100-metre final round which was scheduled to be held later on Saturday.

Earlier, Shajar made a record in 200-metre category by completing the track in 20.91 seconds at an event held in Iran.

Meanwhile, another Pakistan athlete Abdul Mueed Baloch, who is also known as Baloch Bolt, also qualified for the 400-metre final in Almaty.

Apart from Shajar and Mueed, other Pakistan athletes competing in the Almaty event include Shahnawaz (discus throw), Sohail Amir (1,500 and 5,000-metre) and Shehroze (high jump).

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2022