Web Desk:
Pakistan’s discus thrower, Haider Ali made the nation proud as he claimed the first-ever gold medal for the country in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on Friday.
Haider bagged the medal with a 55.26 meters throw in his fifth attempt out of the total six, according to information received here. His first two throws were adjudged ineligible, almost costing him a spot in the contest. He nailed his third attempt with a throw of 47.84 meters, while the fourth throw was a foul. But his fifth attempt was a classy throw that helped him earn the medal in the coveted event.
The official Paralympics Games accounted posted on Twitter that the attempt was a “personal best” for Ali.
It's #Gold for #PAK! F37 discus thrower Haider Ali wins his country's first medal of the Games!
His throw of 55.26m is a personal best and almost three metres longer than second place! #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics #ParaAthletics pic.twitter.com/SD3rO1qlaF
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) September 3, 2021
Celebrating his win, the athlete said the gold medal would be “very important” for Para-sports in Pakistan since others would be able to see what can be achieved through hard work.
“I hope to be a role model for other people that have a disability [and who] don’t compete in sports to take part in para-sports,” he said.
“This #Gold will be very important for Para sport in my country. They will see what can be achieved through hard work and to be able to compete internationally for Pakistan." – Haider Ali 👏 #PAK #ParaAthletics #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/FSZ0Qbs2jE
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) September 3, 2021
The United States Embassy in Islamabad also congratulated him for the win and said he was “used to creating history”.
Congratulations to Haider Ali for winning the first-ever Paralympic gold medal🏅for Pakistan🇵🇰! Haider is used to creating history having secured Pakistani's 1st Paralympic games medal (Silver) in 2008. Well done! #paraolympics #goldmedal #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/Fif6mumn9r
— U.S. Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) September 3, 2021
Meanwhile, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry thanked the athlete for his win on Twitter.
“We are proud of you,” he tweeted.
شکریہ حیدر علی، ہمیںآپ پر فخر ہے https://t.co/c7NbaSeiMx
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 3, 2021
Haider Ali, from Gujranwala, suffers from cerebral palsy. This is not the first time he has won a medal. However, his previous medals were for the long jump. He won a bronze medal at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016 and a silver medal at the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008.
