Pakistan faces tough start at Asian Games in Nagoya

Pakistan’s campaign at the ongoing Asian Games in Japan has yet to produce a major breakthrough, with several athletes making early exits in swimming, triathlon and cycling events.

The Asian Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, where Pakistani athletes are competing across different disciplines in the regional sporting spectacle.

In swimming, Pakistan’s competitors were unable to advance beyond the opening rounds. Hareem Malik finished last in her heat of the women’s 50-metre breaststroke after completing the distance in 36.52 seconds. She was placed 22nd overall.

Mishal Ayesha Hayat also competed in the event and clocked 37.02 seconds, finishing eighth in her heat and 24th overall.

In the men’s 100-metre freestyle, Hamza Asif finished second in his heat. However, his overall ranking was 35th, preventing him from progressing further in the competition.

Pakistan also faced setbacks in the triathlon and cycling events. The country’s triathlon competitors were eliminated before reaching the final, while cyclists Ali Hassan, Sana Arif and Mohid were classified as overlapped during their respective events.

Despite the early setbacks, Pakistan will still have representation in the mixed triathlon event, offering another opportunity for the contingent to make an impact.

There was some positive news in MMA, where Pakistan’s Asim Khan advanced to the quarter-finals. His opening-round opponent was disqualified after failing to meet the required weight limit, allowing Khan to move into the next stage.

The results so far highlight the challenges facing Pakistan’s contingent across several disciplines, while the remaining events could provide opportunities for athletes to improve the country’s performance at the Games.

With competition continuing in Nagoya, attention will now turn to Pakistan’s upcoming appearances, particularly the mixed triathlon event and Asim Khan’s quarter-final bout.