LAHORE: The Pakistan rowing team delivered a decent performance at the Asian Indoor Rowing Championship held in Penang, Malaysia, from August 9 to 11, securing a total of five gold, five silver, and four bronze medals, as reported by the Pakistan Rowing Federation on Monday.

The championship saw participation from hundreds of athletes across more than 15 Asian nations. Notably, Pakistan’s impressive haul of medals this year marks a significant improvement from the previous Asian Indoor Rowing Championships in 2019, where the country secured only one gold. The Pakistan contingent included 10 male and four female athletes.

In the open men’s 4x500 metre relay Race, the team of M. Imran Dogar, Ahmad Aziz, Imran Aslam, and Zark Khan won the gold medal.

Pakis­tan also secured another gold in the lightweight men’s 4x500 metre relay race, with Abdul Rehman, Muzamil Shahzad, Gohar Ayub, and M. Abdul Rehman making up the victorious squad.

Zark clinched the gold in the under-23 open men’s single (2000m), while M. Abdul Rehman achieved another gold in the under-23 lightweight men’s single (2000m).

Muzamil Shahzad also added a gold to Pakis­tan’s tally in the lightweight men’s single (500m).

Naila Bano earned a silver medal in the lightweight women’s single (500m). The mixed lightweight 4x500 metre relay race team, comprising Naila, Razia Hanif, Muzamil Shahzad, and Gohar Ayyub, secured a silver medal.

Additionally, M. Abdul Rehman earned a silver medal in the under-19 men’s single (500m).

Mohammad Adil Virk claimed the silver in the open-weight men’s single (2000m).

In the open women’s 4x500 metre relay race, the team of Naila, Razia, Rabia Amjad, and Iqra also won a silver medal.

Rabia won a bronze in the women’s single (500m). Imran and Ahmad both secured bronze medals in the men’s single (500m). The open mixed 500-metre team, featuring Ahmad, Imran Aslam, Rabia, and Iqra, rounded out the bronze medalists.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2024