Written by: Haroon Shuaib
Posted on: September 01, 2021 | 
| 中文
(R to L) Haider Ali, Anila Izzat Baig, and Dr Fatima in Tokyo
Not many people know about the Paralympics, and fewer still know that Pakistan has won 2 medals at the Paralympics in the past. These are a silver medal in Beijing Paralympic Games (2008) and a Bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games (2016); both for men’s long jump category, thanks to an unassuming Haider Ali from Gujranwala, who suffers from cerebral palsy. Ali has also won gold in the F38 long jump event and bronze in the T-38 100-meters dash at Asian Para Games held in Guangzhou, China (2010). He also won a gold in the long jump event at the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled in Malaysia (2006). Ali was honored with President’s Pride of Performance Award in 2020, yet remains under-celebrated in a country that has seen few successes at the International Olympics Arena in recent years.
Haider Ali
Haider Ali, and another para-athlete, Anila Izzat Baig from Faisalabad, are currently in Tokyo to participate in the 16th Paralympic Games. The 2020 Paralympics, just as the Olympic Games, had to be rescheduled due to the pandemic and will be taking place in Tokyo from 24th August till the 5th of September 2021. Both the para-athletes are competing in discus throw as well this time. While Ali will compete on September 3rd, unfortunately Baig’s journey at Tokyo Paralympics came to an end on August 29, as only one of her three throws made it to 19 meters, with the other two throws getting disqualified on technical grounds. She is disappointed but not dejected, and hopes her country will appreciate the efforts that para- athletes put into their passion.
The opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympics
“I have a full time job and couldn’t dedicate enough time for training before the event. I couldn’t take days off from work as I support my family. We only have Chef De Mission and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Fatima with us here in Tokyo. It makes a difference if you have your coach with you, but there were just not enough funds to send a larger contingent,” Baig confessed while speaking from Tokyo. “I was fond of sports from a young age, but my mother and brothers were not in favor of my sporting interests. My father supported me. I was struck by polio when I was a few months old, but that didn’t deter me from pursuing sports. There are a lot of very talented athletes, both boys and girls, in many cities and towns of Pakistan, who may suffer from some form of disability, but can win accolades for the country at the international level if given support. I strongly urge all those who can help to support us. We need funds, so we can dedicate all our attention and energies to prepare ourselves and compete internationally,” Baig emphasized.
Anila secured a gold medal in 2009 at Tokyo
Baig, the first female para-athlete to ever represent Pakistan at Paralympics, has previously won a gold medal for discus throw in Asian Youth Para Games (2009) that were also held in Tokyo, and won many other laurels at numerous international events. She works as a folder at a textile factory, which requires standing for hours at a stretch. “I barely had a few days to train for Tokyo Games. The pandemic made it more challenging. I had to rush between work, training, and making arrangements for my travel. It was all very tough. I had to hire a rickshaw from my own savings to take me from one place to another. We only got confirmation a few days before the event that the committee had managed to arrange our travel to Tokyo,” she said. National Paralympic Committee was able to make a last minute breakthrough and secure tickets for the 3 member contingent from the Government of Punjab.
The International Olympic Committee recognizes ‘Special Olympics World Games’ with athletes having intellectual disabilities and ‘Deaflympics’ (deaf athletes). However, ‘Paralympics’ include athletes with impairments related to muscle power, limb deficiency resulting from amputation or dysmelia, leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment, and also includes intellectual impairment. Since 1988, Paralympic Games are held almost immediately following the respective Olympic Games and governed by the International Paralympic Committee. The tradition of Paralympics started from a small gathering of British World War II veterans in 1948, but has become one of the largest international sporting events with a periodic series of international multi-sport events. Having attended the Paralympics in Beijing (2008), I can vouch that the scale, the spirit, and the sportsmanship is no less than the Olympics.
Some of the para-athletes in the 2020 Paralympics
“Established in December 1998, the National Paralympic Committee of Pakistan is the sole representative organization of International Paralympic Committee in Pakistan, affiliated with Asian Paralympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee. Despite the very limited means and not much support from public or private sector, Paralympic Committee of Pakistan has been able to organize 43 Training camps, 22 National sports Championships and 6 National Paralympic Games, including one exclusively for women with disabilities. We are lucky to have very committed leadership and volunteers at National Paralympic Committee, so we have been successful in sending Pakistani athletes with disabilities to 25 international and regional sports events,” said Imran Shami, Secretary General of National Paralympic Committee. To date, Pakistani para-athletes have secured 72 medals comprising of 22 Gold, 26 Silver, and 24 Bronze Medals.
Anila Izzat Baig at World Para Athletics in 2019
Despite these extremely limiting circumstances, the committee officials including President Tariq Mustafa, Secretary General Imran Shami, Vice President Parveen Qadir Agha and volunteers and supporters from general public have made personal efforts to help the athletes compete at international events. At times they have had to resort to using personal resources in order to help secure funds for the athletes. “The National Paralympic Committee Pakistan takes pains in training these athletes and sending them abroad. We have very modest training facilities, but we have succeeded in getting slots for our athletes for over two decades now. Haider Ali and Anila have won medals in international events earlier on also. The aim of National Paralympic Committee is to keep the Pakistan flag flying in every international event,” said Parveen Qadir Agha, Vice President of National Paralympic Committee of Pakistan.
“While internationally Olympics and Paralympics are treated equally, unfortunately in Pakistan they differentiate in the treatment and funding of Olympics versus Paralympics. People don’t understand that Paralympics are also highly competitive. Our Paralympians need support as they are using the same kits that were used before. The government and corporate sector must support the National Paralympic Committee of Pakistan, as we have to groom the para-athletes from across the country, but there are too many obstacles. The para-athletes have won the country so many medals and laurels, but they still do not get their due recognition,” declared Huma Mustafa Beg, Media Director for National Paralympic Committee of Pakistan.
Haider Ali Won a Silver Medal at Beijing Paralympics 2008 for long jump
While no credible data is available for the number of Pakistanis who are differently-abled, according to World Health Organization, about 15 percent of the world's population lives with some form of disability. Regardless of whether Ali wins any medal in Tokyo or not, and whether or not Anila could make it to the victory stand this time, Pakistan must support its differently-abled athletes by dedicating resources to Paralympics and rooting for their para-athletes.
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