Tokyo, Japan, September 3, 2021: Haider Ali made history by winning Pakistan’s first gold medal in the Paralympics with a throw of 55.26 metres in the men’s discus F37.
Pakistan had previously won two medals at the Paralympic Games, one silver and one bronze, both claimed by Ali himself in the long jump at Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016 respectively.
He went one better at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics on Friday to earn his country its first Paralympics gold with a personal best throw.
“This gold will be very important for Para sport in my country,” Ali tweeted. “They will see what can be achieved through hard work and to be able to compete internationally for Pakistan.”
He added: “I hope to be a role model for other people that have a disability that don’t compete in sports to take part in para sports.”
Ali achieved his gold medal-winning effort at his fifth attempt out of six. It was almost three metres longer than Ukraine’s Mykola Zhabnyak who scored 52.43m to win the silver medal. Brazilian Joao Victor de Souza won bronze with a throw of 51.86m.
Ali, who hails from Gujranwala, suffers from cerebral palsy.
The Pakistan Olympic Association posted a congratulatory message on its Facebook page: “The Olympic Family of Pakistan congratulates Mr. Haider Ali for securing Gold Medal in Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.”
