TOKYO: Paralympian Haider Ali has brought laurels for this country after he won the first-ever gold medal for Pakistan in the Paralympics.
He topped the podium in the discus throw event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Haider threw a 55.26 metres throw in his fifth attempt out of the total six he made to score the best distance.
The silver medal was bagged by Ukraine’s Zhabnyak with a 52.43 metres throw, while Brazilian Teixeira de Souza won bronze with a 51.86 throw.
Earlier, Haider had won two medals, a silver in Beijing and a Bronze in Rio in the long jump event for Pakistan. The 36-year-old became the first Pakistan in 2008 to bring the Paralympics medal home and also made a world record with a 6.44 meter leap in long jump during the Beijing Games.
Ali has changed his main event from long jump to discus throw now. He had competed in discus throw in 2008 Games where he finished fourth, but this is the first time he is only competing in discus throw.
Pakistan has won the Gold medal 🥇. Mubarik to the nation . Unbelievable throw at 55 .26 . After a wobbly start what an incredible end. Pakistan’s first ever GOLD in Paralympic Games Tokyo. pic.twitter.com/i4TiMirYSW
— Paralympic Pakistan (@PakParalympic) September 3, 2021
