Pakistan's History of Sports Achievements

by Nayab T.

Thursday, June 11, 2020 at 04:06 PM

When it comes to talking about unforgettable moments in sports that carved a place in history, Pakistan has had its fair share.

We are not the most gifted nation as far as resources are concerned but there is no lack of talent and passion in the sports field. Not only has the country produced legends in various sports, it has also left long lasting legacies that are, to date, fondly remembered and cherished.

Along with Champions of Squash and Hockey, Cricket is the by far the most popular sport in Pakistan, and they have been considered the most dominant country in the sport of cricket, with numerous records under. Traditional sports like Kabaddi and other well known games are also played. The Pakistan Sports Board was created in 1962 by the Ministry of Education as a corporate body for the purposes of promoting and developing uniform standards of competition in sports in Pakistan comparable to the standards prevailing internationally, and regulating and controlling sports in Pakistan on a national basis. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, now has control over the Pakistan Sports Board. The PSB controls all 39 Sporting Federations. The Pakistan Sports Board is support by the Pakistan Sports Trust which assists hard up players and associations so they can continue participating in sports.

Hockey

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is the national governing body of field hockey in Pakistan. The Pakistan Hockey Federation Women Wing (PHFWW) is the official organization of Women's Field Hockey in Pakistan. Pakistan’s hopes for the Olympics used to be pinned on field hockey, from its first gold in Rome in 1960, right through to the 90s, when it continued to dominate the sport.The Pakistan men's team has won 3 gold medals at the Olympics and lifted the Hockey World Cup 4 times, a World Record. It has also won the most number of Asian gold medals and is the only Asian team to have won the prestigious Champions Trophy with 3 titles. Notable players include: World-Record holder Sohail Abbas, Arshad Khan, Mohammed Saqlain and Waseem Ahmad.

Squash

In the field of squash, the members of an extended family from a small village called Nawakille, outside Peshawar began to dominate the sport from the 50s to almost the end of the century. It began when Hashim Khan began his unchallenged domination of the sport, with his seven wins of the British Open in the 1950s. Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan are considered legends of the Sport and have won several World Squash Championships and other tournaments. Pakistani players have won the Squash World Open 17 times, and British Open 12 times, the highest by any nation. Carla Khan, one of Pakistan's most successful Sportswomen, is one of a number of men and women who represent Pakistan. 

Cricket

The popularity of cricket picked up as Pakistan’s performance in both hockey and squash declined rapidly after the 90s. Talented and mercurial, the team won accolades against all odds with wins of the 1992 World Cup and the 2007 ICC T20, to becoming the number one ranked test team in 2016, all the while defying logic and pundits expectations. At its recent outing to the ICC Champions Trophy in June this year, it was the lowest ranked team in the competition, coming into the global event with a string of humiliating defeats. However, Pakistan managed to win the tournament in a spectacular fashion by defeating arch rivals India in the finals. A famous epithet about the Pakistan cricket team is: “The only predictable thing about Pakistan is their unpredictability.”

Polo

Polo, is believed to have originated in Central Asia, and continues to be an important sport within the country with several large annual competitions. The Shandur Polo Tournament, played at the world\'s highest pologround every June, is one of the biggest tourist draws to Chitral and Gilgit in Northern Pakistan.Notable players include: Murad Ismail, Raja Sami Ullah, Raza Muhammad Ali Khan Bangash and Hissam Ali Haider. Raza Bangash is Pakistan's No.1 Polo Player since June 2009 Playing for President's Body Guard Team

Athletics

Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) organizes athletic tournaments in Pakistan. Pakistani athletes compete in various athletic events. In the early decades, Pakistani’s held many Asian records including the Asian 100m and 200m record held by Abdul Khaliq. Pakistani female athletes have also represented Pakistan at international level, such as Shabana Akhtar, who was the first Pakistani female athlete to participate at the Olympics. International events such as the Lahore Marathon take place in the country.