First 10 gold medals decided as Special Olympics Pakistan National Games kick off in Islamabad
First 10 gold medals decided as Special Olympics Pakistan National Games kick off in Islamabad
By Nawaz Gohar ; The Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP) National Games commenced in a blaze of color and competitive spirit at the Pakistan Sports Complex, with the first 10 gold medals decided on the opening day of the three-day event.
The prestigious national tournament was officially inaugurated by Ronak Lakhani, Chief Executive of Special Olympics Pakistan.
The opening ceremony was attended by prominent sports and community figures, including SOP Board of Directors member Farrukh Abbas, Olympian Sadaf Siddiqui, and former Head of the Federal Region Mahfooz Elahi, among others.
Athletes from across the country showcased exceptional talent in the initial track and field events, with thrilling finishes across multiple categories.
Track Events: Blazing Times on the Grid
In the Men’s 400-meter race, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KPK) Basit Ali clinched the gold medal with an impressive time of 1 minute and 1 second. Punjab’s Muhammad Adil secured the silver medal, while Muhammad Wasif from the Federal Capital territory took home the bronze.
The Women’s 400-meter category saw Sindh’s Sadia Junaid claim the top podium spot with a time of 1 minute and 55 seconds. She was followed closely by Tabassum (1:59) in second place and Hajra Munir (2:01) in third.
The sprint events brought high-intensity action to the track:
Women’s 100m (F2 Category): Sindh dominated the podium with Saira Akram winning gold (20.00 seconds) and her fellow provincial teammate Eman Niaz taking silver (20.37 seconds). Punjab’s Sahar Safdar finished third to take bronze (20.45 seconds).
Men’s 100m (B+ Category): Punjab secured a one-two finish as Adil Khan sprinted to gold in 13.98 seconds, followed by Tayyab Waleed who took silver in 14.23 seconds. KPK’s Hammad Zahoor completed the podium with a bronze-winning time of 14.35 seconds.
Field Events: Precision and Power
The field events proved to be equally competitive, showcasing incredible strength and athletic coordination.
In the Women’s Mini-Javelin Throw, the Federal Capital territory dominated the scoreboard. Alishba Karim and Amreesh Karim delivered stellar performances to secure first and second place respectively, while Punjab’s Sahar Safdar claimed the third spot.
The Men’s Long Jump event witnessed a razor-thin margin of victory. Sindh’s Asif Ali leaped to a gold medal with a distance of 2.84 meters. Punjab’s Mahboob Rasool secured the silver medal with a 2.75-meter jump, narrowly edging out Muhammad Ahmad, who took bronze with a distance of 2.74 meters.
The action-packed three-day event continues tomorrow at the Pakistan Sports Complex, with several more sporting disciplines scheduled to take place.
