SWAT: The people of Swat gave a warm welcome on Wednesday evening to athlete Amir Khan when he returned to Swat after winning a gold medal at the7th Taekwondo Championship held in Thailand.

The 22-year-old Amir Khan from Pakistan was among over 3,000 athletes from 30 countries, including India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, China, Indonesia, and Malaysia, participated in the championship.

Amir Khan, hailing from Amankot in Swat, emerged as a standout performer. He demonstrated exceptional prowess and resilience, defeating athletes from India, the Philippines, and Japan in his group to secure the gold medal.

In an emotional statement, Amir Khan dedicated his success to his hometown and his country, expressing gratitude for the support he had received from his coaches, family, and friends.

Speaking to Dawn, he said that when he qualified for the championship, he had no money for an air ticket. “At first, I thought to cancel my trip to Thailand for having no money to buy an air ticket for myself, but my passion for the game and love of my country encouraged me to borrow money from family and friends to make it possible to participate in the championship,” Mr Khan narrated. He noted with sorrow that no government official or elected representative received him at the airport. However, he was happy that the Mingora City Mayor and a large number of people welcomed him to Swat.

He emphasised that the government and the sports boards should allocate funds not only to cricket but also to other sports as well to engage youth of the country in the productive activities.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2024