Pak Special Olympics squad returns after impressive show
Pakistan's squad, which won 11 medals at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, returned home on Monday to a warm welcome at the Karachi Airport. Associate Secretary General of Pakistan Olympic Association Tehmina Asif, along with officials from Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP) and the family of the athletes besides several fans received the squad.
They were greeted with flower garlands in celebration of their remarkable achievement in the Special Olympics.
Gold medalists Moazzam Iqbal, Afaq Khan, Abdul Saboor, and Minahil Asim expressed their pride in representing Pakistan, stating that they participated in the games with the sole aim of winning for their country. They credited their success to their hard work, the guidance of their coaches, SOP's support, and the prayers of the entire nation.
Chairperson of Special Olympics Pakistan, Ronak Lakhani, emphasized that winning medals in such a mega event is a significant honor for Pakistan. She highlighted that the team had been preparing for the Winter Games for the past five years, and the athletes reached the victory stand by delivering their best performances. She also acknowledged the crucial role of the coaches, whose dedication and excellent training helped the athletes achieve this milestone.
Tehmina Asif, Associate Secretary General of POA, noted that the World Winter Games featured some of the best teams from around the world, yet the enthusiasm and determination of Pakistani athletes were extraordinary. She added that in Turin, the athletes not only showcased their sporting skills but also served as ambassadors of Pakistan, spreading messages of love and peace, leaving a lasting impression on players from other countries.
Tehmina also congratulated the athletes' parents for their unwavering support in encouraging their children to pursue sports.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
24-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Faheem slams Mirpur pitch
Faheem Ashraf's maiden T20I half-century went in vain as Pakistan suffered an eight-run defeat in the second T20I against Bangladesh. Photo: AFP Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has voiced concerns over the pitch conditions at the Shere Bangla Stadium, attributing the challenging surface to hot weather and recent rainfall after Pakistan's defeat in the second T20I against Bangladesh on Tuesday. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ashraf drew comparisons between the current surfaces and those seen during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). "You mentioned the BPL and the current matches — the BPL takes place in December-January, so the weather is cold during that time, whereas now the weather is hot. So the pitches you're seeing now are totally different. At that time, there wasn't as much spin or grip, and the pace wasn't coming through like this," Ashraf remarked. Ashraf also emphasised how changing weather and ground conditions have impacted surface behaviour. He elaborated that while BPL pitches gradually improve for batting, the current series is unfolding on tracks that remain inconsistent in nature. "Early on in those matches, there's usually a bit of grass, so the initial games can be slightly challenging, but later the pitches become good for batting. However, that's not the case in this series because the surface is becoming hard, yet underneath it still feels soft," he said. The 31-year-old also revealed insights shared by the ground staff. "We spoke with the groundsmen as well, and they said maybe due to the rains, the pitches haven't been prepared in the usual way," he revealed. "But if you compare it with the BPL, there's a big difference. I played last year and this year as well — the pitches in the BPL are much better compared to the ones we're playing on now," he concluded. Pak slip in rankings Pakistani cricketers have experienced a significant decline in the latest ICC T20I rankings, following inconsistent performances in the ongoing three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Mirpur, where the national team has lost the first two encounters. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris has fallen 20 places, now sitting at 50th with 514 rating points. Out-of-form opener Saim Ayub dropped three spots to 64th, while top-order batter Hassan Nawaz saw a sharp decline, slipping 22 positions to 68th. Even players not part of the current squad, such as star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, have not been spared, with both dropping one place to 13th and 14th respectively. Fakhar Zaman, who showed discipline in his batting across consecutive matches against Bangladesh, rose eight spots to 79th with 426 rating points. White-ball captain Usman Khan, who struggled with the bat and managed only nine runs off 23 deliveries in the second T20I, dropped 18 places to 93rd with 396 points. Australia's Travis Head continues to lead the T20I batting rankings, followed by India's Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma in second and third place, respectively. In the bowling rankings, pacer Abbas Afridi slipped two places to 22nd with 608 rating points, while Haris Rauf fell four spots to 24th with 593 points. Left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi, currently not part of the T20I squad, also dropped two positions to 36th with 591 points. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed showed improvement, climbing 12 places to 49th with 499 points. Vice-captain Shadab Khan fell four spots, landing at 65th in the latest update. New Zealand's Jacob Duffy retained his number one position in the T20I bowling rankings, followed by England's Adil Rashid and India's Varun Chakaravarthy in second and third place, respectively.
Express Tribune
19-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Pakistan stun Iran to win Asian U-16 Volleyball Championship
Listen to article The unbeaten Pakistan team made history on Saturday by clinching the title of the 2nd Asian Men's U-16 Volleyball Championship 2025 in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, with a dramatic 3-2 victory over defending champions Iran in a pulsating final. In a match filled with intensity and momentum shifts, Pakistan stunned Iran after coming back from two sets down to claim a sensational five-set win with scores of 22-25, 21-25, 30-28, 25-21, and 15-10. The victory not only earned Pakistan the gold medal and the championship trophy, but also established them as a rising powerhouse in youth volleyball across Asia. The final began with Iran taking early control, edging Pakistan in a close first set 25-22 and following up with a 25-21 win in the second. However, the young Pakistani squad mounted an impressive comeback, winning the third set in a thrilling 30-28 finish that shifted the momentum decisively. Read More: Pak storms into the final of Asian U16 Volleyball With renewed energy and precision, Pakistan took the fourth set 25-21 and dominated the fifth and final set 15-10, leaving the Iranian side unable to respond. It marked Pakistan's second win over Iran in the tournament, having previously beaten them 3-1 in the quarter-final round. The result forced Iran, who had entered the final as defending champions, to settle for the silver medal. With this win, Pakistan completed the championship undefeated — a campaign that included a commanding 3-0 semi-final victory over arch-rivals India. Iran had beaten Japan 3-0 in the other semi-final. Pakistan's path to the title was marked by consistent excellence. In the group stage, they overcame strong opponents including South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Chinese Taipei to top Group D. They then defeated Indonesia in the quarter-finals, followed by back-to-back victories over Iran and India in the knockout rounds. By securing the Asian title, Pakistan also booked their place in the FIVB U-17 World Championship 2026, further underlining their meteoric rise at the junior level.
Express Tribune
12-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Pak reach U-18 Asia Cup hockey final
Pakistan players sing their national anthem ahead of their Men's U-18 Hockey Asia Cup 2025 semifinal against Malaysia at the Dazhou National Hockey Training Centre in Dazhou on Friday. photo: afp Pakistan have advanced to the final of the Men's U18 Asia Cup 2025 following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Malaysia in the semifinal at the National Hockey Training Centre in Dazhou, China, on Friday. The tightly contested match concluded in a shootout after both teams remained deadlocked during regular play. In a tense finish, the Green Shirts held their nerve to secure a 4-3 win in the penalty shootout. Pakistan capitalised on the pressure, with Malaysia missing two crucial attempts during the decisive shootout, while the Green Shirts only failed to score once. The victory caps a remarkable run for the young Pakistani squad, which has shown exceptional form throughout the tournament. They began their campaign with a resounding 8-0 win over Hong Kong, followed by a crushing 9-0 victory against Sri Lanka. In their third match, they defeated Bangladesh 6-3, virtually securing a place in the semifinals. In the quarterfinals, Pakistan outclassed China 2-1 in a commanding performance to seal a place among the final four. It is pertinent to mention that the Green Shirts will face Japan in the grand finale of the tournament on Sunday at the same venue. Pak beat China in quarter-final Earlier, continuing their unbeaten run in the U-18 Asia Cup 2025, Pakistan secured a commanding 2-1 victory over China to qualify for the semi-finals. The Green Shirts got off to a flying start to the high-stakes clash as Hassan Shahbaz netted the opener in just the 11th minute through a field goal. The scoreline remained intact at 1-0 until halftime despite four penalties shared between the two teams in an eventful second quarter. The goal drought eventually culminated late in the third quarter when Ali Hanzala doubled Pakistan's lead through another well-executed field goal. China, however, were quick to pull one back as Jiaxing Lin converted a penalty corner in the same minute. The hosts then made several efforts to net the equaliser but Pakistan goalkeeper Ghulam Mustafa denied them any chance of forcing their way back into the game, ensuring the scoreline remained intact at 2-1. The victory extended Pakistan's unbeaten run to four matches as they topped Group A standings with 12 points and a goal difference of 21, scoring 25, while conceding only four. The Green Shirts will face Malaysia in the semi-final, scheduled to be played at the same venue on Friday. Pakistan started their Men's U18 Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a ruthless 8-0 victory over Hong Kong before routing Sri Lanka 9-0. They then faced Bangladesh in their third match and prevailed 6-3, which had put them within touching distance of semi-final qualification. Squad: Mohammad Usman, Atif Ali, Asam Junaid, Mohammad Abdullah Farooq, Abdullah Awan, Zubair Lateef, Mohammad Yaseen, Mohammad Ali Taj, Ghulam Mustafa, Ali Hamza, Ali Hamzad, Aamir Sohail, Adeel Afzal, Mohammad Zaman, Mohammad Hussain, Mohammad Shaheer, Hasan Shahbaz, Yaseen Jamshaid Team Management: Shafqat Malik (Manager), Mukhtar Ahmed, Touseeq Ahmed, Masood-ur-Rahman (Coaches).
