It was a good day (5 August) for the Pakistan wrestlers in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022, wherein they added two medals in Wrestling. Inam butt and Zaman Anwar bagged a silver medal in the 86 and 125 kg categories respectively. Pakistan has secured one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals till now in the CWG 2022.
However, Anwar was not amused with the result, after losing to Canada’s Amarveer Dhesi 2-9. Although his opponent was an experienced athlete, he thinks it was a lost opportunity to secure a yellow metal.
“I thank God for allowing me to compete in the finals. It is extremely disappointing not to have won the gold medal. The opponent in the final was an Olympian, but it was a good match,” said Zaman.
Indian athletes got training in America and Kazakhastan, we just came from home: Anwar
Anwar expressed his displeasure with the country’s current training regime, which has certainly contained them to a certain extent. He reckoned that few Indian athletes are training in America and Kazakhstan, while the Pakistan athletes have trained in sub-standard facilities.
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“The training was good, but international-style training would have been preferable. While our opponents [Indians] received international training, we just came from our homes and travelled to compete,” added Anwar.
It is evident from the fact that India added three gold medals in Wrestling on 5 August in the CWG, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Deepak Punia. The Indian government and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) have been proactive in providing international training facilities to their athletes.
Earlier this year, SAI provided financial assistance of Rs. 5.5 Lakhs to fund athlete Neeraj Chopra in the Gloria Sports Arena, in Antalya, Turkey. He went overseas to prepare for the CWG, Asian Games and Athletics World Championships. However, Neeraj unfortunately pulled out of the ongoing Commonwealth Games due to an injury concern.