Tokyo Paralympic: Who is Pakistan’s first-ever gold medalist Haider Ali?
Haider Ali, a Pakistani athlete at the Tokyo Paralympics, raised the nation’s head with pride by winning a gold medal for the first time, a shining example for the younger generation despite being physically disabled.
Who is Haider Ali? how did he overcome disability and became a national hero? This is an important question for the nation. Let’s take a look at the different facts about Haider Ali’s success.
Gold medal and Paralympics
Haider Ali completed the feat in the Men’s Discus Throw event after a 55.26 metres throw in his fifth attempt out of the total six he made to score the best distance, which resulted in him being awarded a gold medal.
National athlete Haider Ali claimed this historic victory by defeating the best athletes in the world, after which the scenes of him waving the Pakistani flag and kissing the gold medal made every Pakistani emotional.
Who is Haider Ali?
Hailing from Gujranwala, Haider Ali, a long jump expert, did not win a gold medal for the first time before the Men’s Discus Throw. He has already won several gold medals.
Haider Ali, who is considered to be the most successful athlete in the country regardless of his disability, says that he trains like ordinary athletes and my coach Akbar Ali Mughal gives me rigorous training.
Polio and disability
Haider Ali’s right leg is 2 inches thinner and one inch shorter than his left leg by birth which has not been treated yet. It is a matter of pride that Haider Ali did not allow disability to become an obstacle to success.
In this regard, Haider Ali’s father shared that his son made his dream come true. His father shared he used to play kabaddi in his youth, but he could not bring the gold medal for Pakistan that Haider Ali has brought.
Haider’s father Sadiq said that his son was just 15 days old when diagnosed with a disease like polio which could not be cured despite extensive treatment but despite that, Haider Ali never lose hope.
Past records and achievements
Globally, Haider Ali won one gold and two silver medals in Malaysia in 2006. He won silver at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, gold and bronze at the 2010 Para-Asian Games in China, and gold medals at the 2016 Asia-Oceania Championships in Dubai.
In addition, Haider Ali has won a bronze medal in the 2016 Rio Paralympics, two gold medals in the 2018 Indonesian Para Asian Games, one bronze medal, two gold, and one silver medal in the China World Championships in 2019.
Winning gold medal at Tokyo Olympics
There was a celebration in the house of Haider Ali who lives in Gujranwala as the athlete won a gold medal for the country. On his success, Haider Ali said that the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Relations and the Pakistan Sports Board have always cooperated.
This time Punjab Provincial Minister Rai Taimoor Khan arranged a week’s camp for me and paid for other expenses for which he is especially grateful.
Prominent political and social figures and artists from across the country congratulated Haider Ali on his historic achievement and the achievement of the Gold Medal, including the President, Federal and Provincial Ministers, and others.
Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated Haider Ali on winning the first gold medal of the Paralympics for the nation and said that his victory has made the entire Pakistani nation proud.
Congratulations #HaiderAli on winning the first ever Gold Medal for Pakistan in #Paralympics. His discus throw of 55.26m won him the medal, making the whole Pakistan🇵🇰 proud#TokyoParalympic pic.twitter.com/hiro6kMgsI
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) September 3, 2021
Message for younger generation
In an interview with a British broadcaster from Tokyo, Haider Ali said that the gold medal he had won would inspire other athletes to win international competitions abroad.
