Tenacity, gold medals and hockey glory. All of Pakistan’s Olympic gold medals have been won in hockey. The Pakistan hockey team dominated the world in the 1950s, winning their first gold medal at the Melbourne Games in 1956. Pakistan’s last medal on the highest Olympic stage was also won by their hockey team at the Barcelona Games in 1992. To put an end to their long-running Olympic medal streak, members of the Pakistani delegation descended on the Grand Opening Ceremony in Paris without their hockey team.
On the day that French President Emmanuel Macron declared France hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics, some Pakistani fan groups were humiliated by a commentator’s comments at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. “Pakistan is a country of over 240 million people, but we only have seven athletes competing in the Olympics,” the Olympic commentator said. The on-air comment sparked a huge debate among Pakistani sports fans, especially X-Channel.
Also see: Read HT’s comprehensive coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics here
“240 million people, seven athletes”
“Pakistan is a country of over 240 million people but only 7 athletes will compete in the Olympics. This is what the commentator at the opening ceremony said. Shameful. Who is to blame?,” X user expressed his displeasure on social media. “The commentator said Pakistan is a country of over 240 million people but only 7 athletes will compete in the Olympics. This is very shameful and very painful. Who is to blame? #Paris2024 #Olympics,” another user added.
Pakistan’s Paris Olympics performance receives ‘shameful’ welcome
Pakistan began their campaign in the men’s 10m air pistol qualifiers on Saturday. Joseph Gulfam placed 22nd with 571 points. India’s Sarabhyot Singh, who won bronze in the mixed team event, outscored Gulfam to finish in 9th place. Pakistan’s Kishmala Talat placed 31st in the women’s 10m air pistol qualifiers at the Paris Games. India’s Manu Baker placed third in the same event to win a historic bronze medal.
Who are Pakistan’s medal favourites in Paris?
Talat and Gulfam finished 14th in the 10m air pistol mixed team qualification series on Monday. Indian pair Manu and Sarabjot secured third place in the qualification round. Pakistani swimmers Ahmed Durrani and Jehanara Nabi also failed to qualify for the medal rounds in their events at the Paris Games. Speaking more about Pakistan’s 18-man contingent, javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem is the Asian country’s only medal hope at the Paris Games.
