The Olympics and Pakistan
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This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
2021
The best two
August 18, 2021: The Times of India
Pakistan’s 2021 Olympics story could have just been about its sheer dismay of realising that only ten athletes were representing a nation of 225 million in Tokyo this summer. Alarmingly, these athletes were accompanied by government officials, who went along for a joy ride in the capacity of support personnel, while the coaches were asked to stay at home. Saddening as well because the country has not won a single medal since 1992, and is mired in the consequences of its policy failures.
But this time something truly unexpected happened. Two Pakistani athletes, a weight lifter and javelin thrower, rose to the occasion, making Pakistanis indulge in something they have long given up on — the audacity to hope. First is Talha Talib, who came close to winning bronze medal in the men’s 67 kg weightlifting. (He missed it by only two kg.) His is a remarkable feat, keeping in mind the 21-year-old’s back story. Talib had barely any means to reach where he did. In fact, it’s a miracle that he did at all. In interviews, we learn that he practised in a school gym and then at home (when the school closed down due to financial difficulties). While his father, who is also his coach, commends the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation for coming to their aid a few times, the truth is that no training camps have been held by the sports federation for weightlifters in the past three years.
Despite the lack of sponsorship and the stress and agony of not having a permanent job, Talib qualified for the Olympics. Even then he was on his own, as there was no training programme planned for him. At the Olympics, he was accompanied by an official of the Pakistan-Asian Weightlifting Federation, who appointed himself as his support personnel. It is said that Talib had to get assistance from Palestine’s coach at the main event. Yet, he persevered. Second is Arshad Nadeem, who came fifth in the men's javelin throw. One of nine children to a family of masons from a small village in Punjab, Pakistan; his is an enduring tale of love for the sport.
As a young child, Nadeem had to ditch cricket, a sport he loved, because he knew that his father, a labourer, would not be able to support him. The 24-year-old mastered the javelin throw by practising in the courtyard of their home and in the streets. Even though he didn’t win a medal, it was heartening for Pakistanis to see the country’s “first track-and-field athlete to qualify directly for the Olympics and the first Pakistani to qualify for the final of any track-and-field event at the Games”.
What I personally love about his story is that he and the Indian javelin champion Neeraj Chopra, who won gold this time, share a deep respect for each other. A friendship that extends beyond the squabbles of their countries.
Talib and Nadeem allowed the country for once to savour its position in the global arena of athletics. Of course, many are also disgruntled with Prime Minister Imran Khan, because he has been negligent of the plight of sportspersons, despite being a cricketing hero himself.
What everyone is missing here is that PM Khan joined sports from a space of extreme privilege. Right from his early days, when he played cricket in the family park (as opposed to the tape ball cricket that’s played in alleys) to playing at the best of cricketing grounds, his has been a journey of a talent which was groomed and championed. Khan also comes from a family of cricketing sports stars who could provide him counsel and opportunities at every turn of his career. While there is no denying his stature and contributions as a sports icon, unlike others who followed him, cricket was never a ticket to a new world for him.
The world of Talha Talib and Arshad Nadeem is, no doubt, much different from Khan's. Theirs also instil hope and inspiration. The two have exhibited a rare mix of grit and talent. But is that enough? The inconvenient truth is that beyond a point, a sportsperson also needs strong financial and institutional support. This entails sponsorship from both private and public sectors, an investment which must start from the school level. The country is in desperate need of state of the art gymnasiums, stadiums and equipment. It also needs an ecosystem that can not only scout talent, but also groom and sustain it.
It is encouraging to see that cricketer Shadab Khan has stepped forward to say that he plans to set up a fund for Pakistan’s athletes, so they are better prepared for the next Olympics. For a cricket obsessed country, which only takes a break for football — and too, European football on TV — this is a big.
As this Olympics ends, one can’t help but remember a line from the concluding ceremony of the 1984 Olympic Games at Los Angeles, where Pakistan last won a gold hockey. “This is when the games end and the memories begin”. Pakistan most certainly deserves some good memories.
