RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s hope for medals in the wrestling shattered with none of the six wrestlers could make it to the medal fight and eliminated well in the pre-quarter-finals of the wrestling event in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games being played at City Olympic Village of Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) on Tuesday.

Muhammad Inam in 86kg, Abdul Wahab in 61kg and Muhammad Bilal in 57kg lost on the opening while the remaining three wrestlers comprising Azhar Hussain in the 59kg, Shoukat Ali in 56kg and Muhammad Umair in the 98kg in the Grece-Roman failed to impress and surprisingly if bouts counts – Muhammad Umair lost in first round, Azhar lost in 44sec and Shoukat Ali eliminated in the second round.

The difference between the wrestlers from Pakistan and other competitors’ countries was alarming as none of the Pakistani wrestlers could secure a worthwhile thing and lost in a one-sided affair despite having more experience and more than doubled in the age.

In the first bout of the last-day proceedings 30-year-old Muhammad Umair of Pakistan lost to 20-year-old Sukhroj Azizov of Tajikistan.

In the second bout 21-year old Aidos Sullangali of Kazakhstan got only 44sec in eliminating 33-year-old Pakistan’s Azhar Hussain.

In the last bout of the day Ul Yamato of Japan, a 19-year-old eliminated 19-year-old Shoukat Ali of Pakistan taking just seconds.

Before facing Shoukat Ali of Pakistan, the Japanese wrestler and recorded victory against Philippines wrestler in the quarter-finals while Pakistan Shoukat Ali got a direct entry to the semi-finals.

There were lots of expectations from the wrestling squad looking after the age and experience but none of them could be reached to those expectations.

Talking about Pakistan position, an expert on the assurance of not to be named said Pakistan have great talent in the past and still many talent is there because of the condition and weather up there but with everyday passing the position of Pakistan become bad to worst.

Pakistan 135 member contingent took part in nine disciplines and has finished the game on 21 positions with 21 total medals including two gold medals, three silver and 16 bronze medals.

Pakistan won medals in the athletic, belt wrestling, ju-jitsu, snooker, and kicking boxing.