Pakistan kept battling political and economic issues in 2023, which also affected sports as Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) was found struggling to get funds from the finance division, but the nation still was able to create history in a few disciplines.

The biggest feat came from the country’s premier javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem who notched the first ever silver medal in the World Championship in Hungary in August with a massive throw of 87.82 metre.

The other historic feat of the year was from shooter Kishmala Talat. In the Asian Games in Hangzhou, Kishmala became the first shooter of the country to clinch bronze. She pulled off the medal in the 10m air pistol with an aggregate total of 218.2.

With her medal Pakistan finished the Asian Games with just one silver and two bronze. The silver came in the men’s squash team event while the other bronze came in the men’s kabaddi event.

Another big moment for Pakistan’s sports in 2023 was the country’s progression to the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. It was on October 17, 2023, when England-born midfielder Harun Hamid struck a goal against Cambodia in Islamabad and enabled the Green-shirts to qualify for the second round.

This was the first ever win in the country’s Qualifiers history since making debut way back in 1990. It was English coach Stephen Constantine who managed the result as he marshalled his troops adroitly against Cambodia with whom the country had played a goalless draw in its away leg in Cambodia.

However, Pakistan later failed to build on it as they went down to Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Al-Ahsa and lost to Tajikistan 6-1 in Islamabad in their second round Group G games.

Pakistan will face Jordan twice in March and will meet Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan once each in June.

Pakistan volleyball team finished fifth in the Asian Games by beating India 3-0 in the fifth position match. This feat could also be counted as a good sign for the country. Because of the brigade’s fine show in Hangzhou six volleyball players were able to sign contracts with foreign clubs.

Credit for this goes to Brazilian coach Issanaye Ferraz who handled his charges quite well during the Asian Games.

Another big future hope also knocked at the door of the country’s athletics circuit. Pakistan’s No2 javelin thrower Mohammad Yasir Sultan won a bronze medal in the 25th Asian Athletics Championships at Bangkok.

The 25-year-old Yasir engineered his personal best throw of 79.93 metres to finish with bronze.

He then finished fourth in the Hangzhou Asian Games when Arshad Nadeem was not playing due to an injury.

Yasir is preparing for the Olympics Qualifiers and he is expected to earn an Olympics seat. He will need to manage a throw of at least 85.50 metres by June 30, 2024, the timeline set by the World Athletics.

Just hours before the end of the year 2023, Pakistan’s Olympics family was shocked by the resignation of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) chief Lt Genl (retd) Syed Arif Hasan who served in the capacity for 19 years.

Through a letter to the POA Executive Committee, Arif announced his resignation citing health reasons.

The next day the POA Executive Committee accepted his resignation and elected former DG FIA Syed Mohammad Abid Qadri Gillani as the new POA chief for an interim period as the NOC will go for elections after this year’s Paris Olympics.

Abid Qadri Gillani was the vice-president of POA and also used to head its finance committee.

He was the best choice left with the POA as the three stalwarts Syed Aqil Shah, Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqoob and Shaukat Javed were unable to contest the election for the POA’s presidency due to age issue.

Having served at top posts, Abid Qadri is expected to tactfully handle the POA’s affairs and work for the development of sports in the country.

73.alam@gmail.com