Inam, Bismah lead Pakistan contingent in CWG 2022 opening ceremony

BIRMINGHAM: National wrestler Inam Butt and the captain of Pakistan women’s cricket team Bismah Maroof led the Pakistan contingent as the joint flag-bearers in the opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games 2022.

In a glittering ceremony, the Pakistan contingent reached for the march past with Bismah and Inam led as the flag-bearers.

The national contingent comprised 103 athletes, coaching staff and officials. Whereas, 68 athletes are partaking in 12 sports in the global event, out of which 27 athletes are female including a 15-member squad of the Pakistan women’s cricket team.

With cricket making its return to the games after a gap of 24 years, Pakistan women’s team will start their CWG campaign today as they take on Barbados. All cricket matches will be played in the T20 format.

Pakistan’s Badminton team, on the other hand, will lock horns with arch-rivals India in their first match, while several athletes will also start their campaign today.

It is pertinent to mention here that 22nd Commonwealth Games will take place here from July 28 to August 8.

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Inam, Bismah to be Pakistan’s flag-bearers in Commonwealth Games 2022

BIRMINGHAM: National wrestler Inam Butt and the captain of the women’s cricket team Bismah Maroof will be bearing the Pakistan flag at the opening ceremony of the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2022.

In a statement, released by the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), the Secretary General Lt Gen (R) Syed Arif Hasan nominated Inam and Bismah as the flag-bearers for Pakistan contingent in the Commonwealth Games 2022.

Inam, who has claimed various medals in Commonwealth Games and also bagged a gold for Pakistan in the World Beach Games and as a result, has been nominated as one of the flag-bearers for the country.

Bismah, on the other hand, will be participating in her first Commonwealth Games. However, her services to the game of cricket in Pakistan has saw her earning the opportunity to lead Pakistan contingent in the global event.

Bismah’s daughter Fatima, who rose to fame during this year’s ICC Women’s World Cup will be accompanying her mother in the global event.

“Commonwealth Games Federation has kindly arranged her facilities to not only play but to look after her daughter, Fatima, during the Games. We cherish her athletic spirit, professionalism and motherhood with utmost respect and pride,” POA confirmed.

It is pertinent to mention here that 22nd Commonwealth Games will take place here from July 28 to August 8.

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Inam Butt bags Bronze medal in Beach Wrestling World Series

ORTACA: Olympian Inam Butt claimed the Bronze Medal after defeating his Turkish counterpart in the third-place playoff of the recently concluded Beach Wrestling World series, here on Sunday.

Imam, who stormed into the quarterfinals on the opening day of the event following two consecutive victories, carried his momentum going as he defeated Turkey’s Haci Abdullah Dilex by 1-0 in the semi-finals.

After winning three consecutive matches in the world championship, the Pakistani Olympian suffered a frustrating defeat from Azerbaijan’s wrestler in the semi-finals, which ended the hope of the Pakistani wrestler for the Gold.

The Olympian then set his sights on the Bronze as he locked horns with a Turkish wrestler in the third-place playoff and managed to thump the latter to claim the medal.

Inam, who won the World Beach Wrestling Championship in 2021 after beating a Ukrainian wrestler in Rome, will be travelling back to the country with a bronze medal this year.

READ: Inam Butt qualifies for the Beach Wrestling World Series quarter-finals

Inam Butt qualifies for the Beach Wrestling World Series quarter-finals

ORTACA: Olympian Inam Butt started his Beach Wrestling World Series campaign on a high as he stormed into the quarter-finals of the tournament, here on Saturday.

Inam, who won the gold medal in the 2021 World Beach Wrestling Championship, displayed his brilliance in the recently commenced tournament here as he sealed two group stage victories to book a quarter-finals spot.

In his opening fight of the tournament against Turkey’s Azkara, Inam edged past his opponent by the scores of 2-1. In his second fight, however, the Olympian completely thrashed his Georgian opponent Dato Pirazushvili by 4-0.

The wrestler will now compete in the tournament’s quarter-finals on May 28. The two-day event will conclude tomorrow, with the knockout rounds taking place on the same day.

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‘2021 was good for wrestling in Pakistan’ World champion Inam Butt

KARACHI: Two-time World Beach Wrestling Champion, Inam Butt said 2021 was great for wrestling in Pakistan. 

In a video message, Inam said he achieved several accolades this year at international level.

“2021 was good for wrestling Pakistan. Alhumdulillah, I won two World Beach Wrestling Championships and a Bronze in Olympics Qualification event,” he shared.

“Overall this year was good for me and I will continue making efforts to continue this momentum ahead,” he added.

It must be noted here that Inam participated in World Beach Wrestling Champions in Italy and Greece respectively.

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“With International standard training, I can win more medals”, Inam Butt

GUJRANWALA: Pakistan’s commonwealth winning wrestler, Inam Butt, lamented the absence of international-level training facilities, while giving interview in the ARY News’ program Bouncer.

When asked about his future objectives, the wrestler stated that after winning all of the major titles, he hopes to win a medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

“The forthcoming Paris Olympics is my primary focus. I have two years to prepare for the qualifying rounds, so I will do everything I can to qualify and bring home a medal for my country,” he said.

Inam, Pakistan’s star wrestler, also stated that money is not his main priority; rather, he wants to take advantage of international level training in order to win more medals for his country.

“The most essential aspect is our international training; we compete for the country, and we are trained locally with limited resources, whereas our competitors have access to worldwide training.,” said Inam.

Inam also claimed that the assigned training space, provided by the Punjab Sports Board, is devoid of facilities, and that the wrestler improvised the training space with no help.

When it comes to mat-wrestling training, Inam says the mat provided by the sports board is insufficient for the amount of athletes who train here.

“The mat is usually for the training of eight to ten players, whereas, we have almost hundred players training here, ” he said.

Inam also extended his requests to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran, to provide the wrestler all the training facilities and to set up a wrestling academy.

READ: 22nd Commonwealth Games’ torch to reach Pakistan on December 27

Pakistan announce team for Commonwealth Wrestling Championship

LAHORE: Champion wrestler Inam Butt alongside nine others will represent Pakistan in Commonwealth Wrestling Championship 2021, scheduled from December 3-5 in South Africa. 

After trials for selecting the team under the supervision of Arshad Sattar, Rustam Band Basheer Bhola Bhala, Maher Ikram aka Kala Pehelwan, Pakistan’s 10-member contingent was announced for the mega event.

Inam Butt will contest in 92Kg category followed by Mohammad Bilal (57Kg), Hammad Butt (61Kg), Allah Rakha (65Kg), Inayatullah (70Kg), M Shareef Tahir (74Kg), Sajawal (79), Nauman Butt (86Kg), Abdul Hameed (97Kg), and Zaman Anwar (125Kg).

Lahore Wrestling Association’s president, Kaala Pehlwan has announced PKR 1 Lac for wrestlers who will win Gold in the event.

It must be noted here that Inam recently won two Gold medals in World Beach Wrestling Series in Italy and Rome.

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