ISLAMABAD: Pakistan unveiled a 10-member squad on Sunday set to compete in the inaugural Asian Masters Weightlifting Championship, which will be held in Doha from 27 to 31 May.
The event will bring together male and female masters athletes from across Asia in what promises to be a landmark competition.
Led by Arshad Khan Turk, President of the Pakistan Masters Weightlifting Association, the national contingent includes seven men and three women.
The female athletes — Neelam Riaz, Nadia Masood, and Saibel Sohail — are all national gold medallists and record holders. Their participation marks a historic milestone as they become the first-ever female masters weightlifters to represent Pakistan at a continental level.
The male line-up features Rashid Khan, Abdul Malik, Kashif Rehan, and Muhammad Iqbal, among others, with four of the lifters hailing from Balochistan.
International debut
Of particular note is Abdul Razzaq, also from Balochistan, who will compete in the 52kg category. He is making his international debut and becomes the first Pakistani to represent the country in an Asian masters weightlifting competition since the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing.
The Pakistani delegation comprises 25 members, including athletes and officials. The team will be led by Arshad Khan Turk, with Syed Masroor Zaidi serving as Team Manager and Umar Javed as Assistant Manager.
Alongside the championship, the event will also witness the formal establishment of the South Asian Masters Weightlifting Association. This new regional body will be formed under the leadership of Davis Afirman, Chairperson of the International Weightlifting Association, and Mohammad Kabiri, President of the Asian Masters Weightlifting Association.
New association
Arshad Khan Turk has been nominated as a candidate for the presidency of the newly formed association.
Speaking ahead of the championship, Turk expressed strong optimism about the national team’s readiness and potential.
“Our male and female lifters are fully prepared. Their participation in this prestigious event will bring honour to Pakistan, and I am confident they will return with gold medals,” he stated.
