NWFP swimmers set record by winning 3 gold medals
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

PESHAWAR: NWFP swimmers have created new record by winning three gold medals for the first in the swimming history of Pakistan on the second day of the ongoing National Junior Age Group Swimming Championship here at Adil Khan Swimming Pool on Sunday.

The coaches including Asad Khan, Mobeen Khan, Nouman Khan and Jabbar Rahim celebrated after the event. “My dream has come true,” a thrilled Muhammad Asif, Secretary of NWFP Swimming Association said.

The boys made great efforts during the three month camps and the coaches had very tough time during the training.

“In the past there was no NWFP team in the swimming circle and now the boys proved that the province has talent to excel,” he remarked.

Secretary Pakistan Swimming Federation (PSF) Major Majid Waseem also lauded the hard work of the NWFP swimmers. He said that more than 10 players would be called for the ongoing National Swimming Camp at Islamabad to further train them under the foreign coach.

He said now the boys have the capability to win medals for the province at the forthcoming National Games, Majid added.

NWFP took three gold, three silver and eight bronze medals so far with many events still to go in the four different age group categories.

Hamid Rahim took the first gold medal in the Under-14 200m Breast Stroke with his clocking showing 3:15:95sec, followed by two Punjab swimmers Ali Shafi with 3:18:69 and Rabi Khan with 3:23:50sec.

Muhammad Asim grabbed gold medal in the 400m free style by clocking 5:39:01sec, followed by Mursil of Punjab with 5:51:36sec and Rameez Azam of Sindh with 6:02:26sec.

While Adnan Hashim won gold medal in 200m individual medley in the Under-14 category by clocking 2:53:64. He was followed by Hamza of Punjab with 2:58:61sec and Ansar of Sindh with 3:00:05sec.

Besides the NWFP swimmers triumph, Wapda swimmers gave tough time to both Punjab and Sindh by winning almost all events in the Under-18 category.

Promising swimmer Sikander Khan also created a new record in the 50m butterfly Under-18 final by clocking 27.25sec beaten old records of 27.19sec. Usman Javed took silver medal for Wapda while Shan Ahmed of Punjab took bronze medal.

Punjab crossed both Wapda and Sindh by taking 11 gold medals and 11 silver medals, followed by Wapda with nine gold medals and as many silver medals. Sindh was trialing at third with 7 gold medals.●