Pakistan’s famend para-athlete Haider Ali talks to Geo Information. — Reporter
KARACHI: Pakistan’s eminent para-athlete, Haider Ali, has expressed his disappointment over the shortage of recognition and help for his achievements within the realm of para-sports.
“I have won four medals for Pakistan in the Paralympics, but I haven’t received the recognition that I should have,” Haider Ali acknowledged. He expressed disappointment over the disparity in rewards between him and fellow athlete Arshad Nadeem, who has obtained accolades past coverage stipulations. “Arshad received more than the policy, and I didn’t even get what was due according to sports policy. If I receive even a third of what Arshad was given, I would be happy.”
Haider shared that his success has been largely because of the steady help of his household, who’ve stood by him at each step of his journey. He highlighted that competing internationally whereas residing in Pakistan is at all times difficult, saying, “It’s not easy to compete at a global level while being here; it requires hard work and determination.”
Highlighting his data, Haider talked about that he’s the one Pakistani athlete to qualify for 5 Paralympic Video games, securing medals in 4 of them. His medal tally contains one gold from Tokyo, one silver from Beijing, and two bronze medals from Rio and Paris. In complete, he has gained 19 medals for Pakistan, which comprise 9 gold, 4 silver, and 6 bronze throughout numerous competitions, together with the Paralympics, Para Asian Video games, and World Championships.
He identified that successful medals requires not solely exhausting work but additionally enough assets. He lamented the shortage of amenities in Pakistan, stating that no matter wage he will get from WAPDA, is utilized in protecting coaching prices which leaves him with none assets to take care of his household.
“I don’t have proper sponsorship or government support, which leads to financial difficulties,” he defined.
“Globally, the Paralympics are given equal importance as the Olympics, and other countries reward their para-athletes with the same prizes as Olympians, but that’s not the case in Pakistan,” Haider mentioned.
He recalled that when he gained a bronze medal on the Rio Paralympics, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi awarded him a prize, marking it as the one time a chief minister has known as him.
Nevertheless, after successful bronze in Paris, he has but to obtain any acknowledgment regardless of prior guarantees.
“When I returned from Paris, Rana Mashhood, the chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, called me to his office and promised to arrange a meeting with the prime minister to get me a reward. But it has been two months now, and there has been no follow-up,” Ali shared, reflecting on his frustrations concerning the shortage of communication.
Haider Ali expressed his disappointment over not receiving the respect he believes he deserves regardless of his distinctive achievements.
He contrasted his state of affairs with that of Indian athletes, noting, “When Indian athletes returned after winning medals from Paris Paralympics, their prime minister rewarded them the very next day, but it’s not the same here.” He added that when he broke the world report in Beijing, a number of nations provided him positions to compete for them, however he at all times selected to signify Pakistan.
Haider Ali mentioned that he was anticipating the identical reception as Arshad Nadeem had received after the Paris Olympics.
“I was happy to see Arshad’s grand welcome; I won my medal on the same ground,” he mentioned. “But I also had a wish in my heart that maybe I would be welcomed in the same manner.”
Whereas he acknowledged he’s happy with Nadeem’s achievements, he reiterated that he feels he has not obtained the popularity he’s entitled to, expressing, “The CM went to his home and awarded him, I would be happy even if I am invited to office by the CM.”
Haider Ali, regardless of all this, emphasised on his dedication to representing Pakistan, stating that regardless of the hurdles, he stays decided to proceed competing on behalf of his nation and hopes for higher help and recognition for para-athletes sooner or later.
