Sports
Finally, Pakistan break the jinx as Haider Ali bags first-ever gold
Tokyo: Hailing from Gujranwala, Pakistan’s discus thrower Haider Ali made history by winning the first-ever gold medal for country with a podium finish at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
Paralympian Haider Ali has won country’s first ever Gold medal on Friday— following which Pakistan entered the gold medal chart.
Haider Ali achieved the feat in the Men's Discus Throw competition in his fifth attempt out of six, heaving an impressive 55.26m distance.
Ali’s first two throws were deemed invalid however, he nailed his third throw with an attempt of 47.84m.
The next throw was another foul. He was well ahead of other competitors with the second placed individual coming in at 52.43m. His throw was a personal best and 3 meters longer than Ukraine's Mykola Zhabnyak's throw, who bagged silver medal.
Brazilian Teixeira de Souza won bronze with a 51.86 throw.
Earlier, the athlete won two medals, a silver in Beijing and a Bronze in Rio in the long jump event for Pakistan.
All-around Pakistani para-athlete also competed in the discus throw at the World Para-Athletics Championship in Dubai in 2019 and won a silver medal for Country.