Shehan, Naseem fastest man, woman of SA Games
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Shehan Saearuwan Abeypitiyage of Sri Lanka and Naseem Hamid of Pakistan set Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) track afire today emerging as the fastest man and woman of the 11 SA Games winning the 100 metre sprint with a timing of 10:46 and 11: 81 seconds respectively, reports BSS.
Both the results were regarded as upsets as Shehan toppled India's Abdul Najeeb Qureshi who won the 200 metre defeating Shehan and was regarded as the hot favourite.
On the other hand, a woman from Pakistan winning the 100 M sprint was unimaginable as it did not happen before and the Pakistani women sprinters were never in the fray of the winners in the 26 year history of the SA Games. Naseem blazed the track to create a piece of history on the track of the BNS.
Shehan shot from the starting block like tracer bullet but his rival competitor Najeeb chased him till the 50 metre mark. Both the sprinters had a nice start but Shehan accelerated and overcame the challenge in the last 10 metres and whisked past Najeeb at the finishing line.
Najeeb clocked 10:56 seconds to grab the silver. Liaqat Ali of Pakistan timed 10: 63 to bag the bronze. Masdul Karim of Bangladesh finished seventh.
Naseem's sparkling feat was never anticipated by anyone. Her lone appearance in the track was in the 4X100 metre relay when Pakistan won the bronze. Her coach prevented her from taking part in the long jump and it worked. The non- commissioned service holder of Pakistan army did a wonder and created a slice of history.
She outran Pramila Priyadashini of Sri Lanka who clocked 11.93 seconds for the silver and Achala Shalika Dias who timed 12:12 seconds for the bronze. Shamsunnahar Chumki of Bangladesh was fifth with timing of 12:16 seconds.
Naseem Hameed talking to press said, " I don't have the words to express my feelings, I actually can't believe that I am the fastest woman of the subcontinent, I have been working hard for the success but it was a distant dream, I have been going through the athletics from my school days, my school's name is Millat School, in Karachi. It was a wonderful feeling that gives me great motivation to look forward, for the first time in the history a girl from Pakistan has won the title of the women's 100 metre in the SA Games. I think this will continue to inspire the upcoming female athletes of the country to come forward. I want to continue to enjoy the success and contribute in the upper level.
Both the results were regarded as upsets as Shehan toppled India's Abdul Najeeb Qureshi who won the 200 metre defeating Shehan and was regarded as the hot favourite.
On the other hand, a woman from Pakistan winning the 100 M sprint was unimaginable as it did not happen before and the Pakistani women sprinters were never in the fray of the winners in the 26 year history of the SA Games. Naseem blazed the track to create a piece of history on the track of the BNS.
Shehan shot from the starting block like tracer bullet but his rival competitor Najeeb chased him till the 50 metre mark. Both the sprinters had a nice start but Shehan accelerated and overcame the challenge in the last 10 metres and whisked past Najeeb at the finishing line.
Najeeb clocked 10:56 seconds to grab the silver. Liaqat Ali of Pakistan timed 10: 63 to bag the bronze. Masdul Karim of Bangladesh finished seventh.
Naseem's sparkling feat was never anticipated by anyone. Her lone appearance in the track was in the 4X100 metre relay when Pakistan won the bronze. Her coach prevented her from taking part in the long jump and it worked. The non- commissioned service holder of Pakistan army did a wonder and created a slice of history.
She outran Pramila Priyadashini of Sri Lanka who clocked 11.93 seconds for the silver and Achala Shalika Dias who timed 12:12 seconds for the bronze. Shamsunnahar Chumki of Bangladesh was fifth with timing of 12:16 seconds.
Naseem Hameed talking to press said, " I don't have the words to express my feelings, I actually can't believe that I am the fastest woman of the subcontinent, I have been working hard for the success but it was a distant dream, I have been going through the athletics from my school days, my school's name is Millat School, in Karachi. It was a wonderful feeling that gives me great motivation to look forward, for the first time in the history a girl from Pakistan has won the title of the women's 100 metre in the SA Games. I think this will continue to inspire the upcoming female athletes of the country to come forward. I want to continue to enjoy the success and contribute in the upper level.