The Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, have been a mixed bag for Pakistan’s athletes, with both victories and hurdles on their path to glory. Here is a closer look at the latest developments:
Shooting Success and Setbacks
Pakistan’s GM Bashir exhibited remarkable skills despite facing some challenges. With a total score of 282 points and eight off-target shots, he secured the eighth position.
Bashir’s pursuit of a spot in the finals hinges on a top-six finish, and the next phase of the qualification awaits him on September 25.
Bashir’s shooting prowess shone through as he recorded 98 points in just eight seconds, followed by 97 in six seconds and another 97 in four seconds.
However, it was not all smooth sailing for Pakistan, as Mehak Fatima failed to progress to the next round in the women’s 10m air rifle, finishing 40th in the qualifying round.
Tennis Triumphs
Turning attention to tennis, Pakistan made an impressive start. Ushna Sohail dominated in the women’s singles, securing a straight-sets victory by defeating Sumaya Tukhtaeva from Tajikistan with scores of 6-2, 6-3.
Meanwhile, Sarah Ibrahim engaged in a fierce battle against Qatar’s Hind Almudahka, ultimately emerging victorious with a scoreline of 6-2, 6(5)-7, 6-3.
The decisive third set belonged to the Pakistani player, securing a 6-3 victory after a gripping 51-minute match. Pakistan continued to shine in tennis with a resounding victory in mixed doubles against Mongolia, winning in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1.
Although there was a setback in the men’s singles, the Pakistani duo of Sarah Ibrahim and Aqeel Khan outplayed Mongolia’s Anand Gankhuyag and Khatansuikh Batbayar in just 48 minutes.
Taekwondo Trials
In men’s taekwondo, Pakistan’s Aqdas Ullah Qadeer faced disappointment, losing to Nepal’s Bahadur Prem Limbu in the first round.
Naila, representing Pakistan, also encountered a tough challenge, losing to Japanese athlete Yuiko Niwa in the quarter-final.
Despite finishing the match with 100.0 points, Naila’s opponent secured a spot in the semi-finals with 104.6 points, following a victory against Saudi Arabia’s Medhat Abrar Bukhari in the Round of 16.
Swimming Struggles
The swimming events proved to be a challenging arena for Pakistan, as both swimmers, Mohammad Amaan Siddiqui and Mohammad Ahmed Durrani, failed to qualify for the next round.
Durrani’s timing in the Men’s 200m individual medley set a new national record at two minutes and 15.10 seconds, but he fell short of qualifying by 12 seconds, finishing 19th out of 27.
Amaan finished 22nd with a timing of two minutes and 18.65 seconds in the same event. In the 100m freestyle heats, Durrani secured 33rd place, while Aman was ranked 37th.
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