Mehboob equals 400m record, Gohar ­beats Olympian Liaquat

KARACHI: Mehboob Ali of Army on Tuesday equalled the record of Rana Sagheer when he inked 46.75 seconds timing in the 400m race of the National Athletics Championship being held in Quetta.

“Mehboob has done well by equalling the record of Rana Sagheer of WAPDA who is now retired,” Athletics Federation of Pakistan’s (AFP) secretary Mohammad Zafar told ‘The News’ from Quetta. “Rana had set the record in the South Asian Games in India a few years ago,” he said.

Asad Ali of WAPDA grabbed silver with a timing of 47.38 and Mazhar Ali of Army clinched bronze by clocking 48.14 timing.

Gohar Shehzad of WAPDA created ripples when he defeated the country’s experienced sprinter and Olympian Liaquat Ali of Army in the 100m final. Gohar clocked 10.44 to emerge as the fastest athlete of the country.

Liaquat, who was part of Pakistan’s contingent in 2012 London Olympics, failed to retain his title, clocking 10.57 and got silver. Ubaib Ali of Army claimed bronze with a timing of 10.69.

The 100m women gold went to Najma Parveen of WAPDA who clocked 12.29. She was followed by Sahib-e-Asra of WAPDA who got silver with a timing of 12.43. Maria Maratab of Army, who clocked 12.60, claimed bronze.

Maria, who will represent Pakistan in Rio Olympics this summer, however, defended her 100m hurdles title by inking an impressive timing of 15.25. Sumaira Tayyaba of Higher Education Commission (HEC) claimed silver with 15.85, while Ghazala Ramzan of WAPDA bagged bronze with a timing of 16.11.

In 800m Ali Mohammad of WAPDA got gold with a timing of 1:53.84, Umar Sadat of HEC picked silver with 1:54.65 and Waqar Younis of Army claimed bronze with 1:55.77.

Army (245 points) were leading in men’s events at the conclusion of the penultimate day with eight gold, seven silver and six bronze medals.

They were followed by WAPDA (176) who won five gold, five silver and four bronze medals. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) were third with 40 points which they got by virtue of one gold and two bronze medals.

WAPDA, as usual, were leading the women’s events with 260 points which they grabbed by taking 11 gold, eight silver, and six bronze medals.

Army (103 points) were following them with two gold, four silver, and four bronze medals.

HEC were at the third place with one silver and three bronze medals.

Competitions in 16 events will be held on Wednesday (today). Governor Balochistan Mohammad Khan Achakzai will grace the closing ceremony. Competitions are being held in 23 men and 21 women events.