Talha Talib, an 18-year-old athlete from Gujranwala, on Thursday won the first medal for Pakistan in the ongoing Commonwealth Games at Australia’s Gold Coast.
Talib, competing in the 62kg category, lifted a total of 283 kilograms of weight to take the bronze medal in 21st Commonwealth Games. He also created a Commonwealth Games record by lifting 132kg in the snatch event.
However, Talib’s performance was the only positive outcome of the day for Pakistan.
Pakistan was crushed 5-0 by Scotland in badminton, convincingly beaten in all events.
Scotland’s Alexander Dunn and Eleanor O’ Donnell won against Pakistan’s Murad Ali and Palwasha Bashir 21-13 and 21-12 in mixed doubles.
Kieran Merrilees beat Irfan Saeed Bhatti (21-6, 21-16) in men’s singles while Kirsty Gilmour beat Mahnoor Shahzad (21-6, 21-10) in women’s singles.
In men’s doubles, the Ali-Bhatti duo lost (21-8, 21-10) against Scottish Martin Campbell and Patrick Maghugh while Julie Macpherson and Eleanor O’ Donnell won (21-6, 21-4) against Mahnoor Shahzad and Palwasha Bashir in a game that lasted only 20 minutes.
In the opening fixture of the men’s hockey competition, Pakistan were held to a 1-1 draw by Wales. Pakistan’s goal was scored by Mubashar Ali on a penalty corner while Rupert Shipperly scored for Wales. Both goals came in the third quarter of the match.
Pakistan’s next fixture in hockey is scheduled against arch rivals India on Saturday.
