Pakistanis set world records in plugs, breads, chessboards
42,813 people in the national hockey stadium sang the national anthem together, smashing the previous best of 15,243 held by India.-Photo by AFP
LAHORE: Pakistan may not have brought home any medals from this summer’s Olympics, but it can now lay claim to world records in chapati-making, plug-wiring and chessboard-arranging.
A weekend of bizarre record attempts in the eastern city of Lahore began on Saturday night when 42,813 people in the national hockey stadium sang the national anthem together, smashing the previous best of 15,243 held by India.
On Sunday, Mohammad Mansha went flat out to set a new record for making chapati breads – mixing, kneading, spinning and cooking three in three minutes and 14 seconds – while 12-year-old Mehek Gul took just 45 seconds to arrange the pieces on a chessboard using only one hand.
Neither of these feats had been attempted before. But Ahmed Amin Bodla beat a more established record when he landed 616 martial arts kicks on a punchbag in just three minutes, beating the previous best of 612 also set by a Pakistani.
The events were held as part of a week-long youth festival in the eastern city of Lahore with the watchful eye of Guinness World Records adjudicator Gareth Deaves ensuring fair play, manager Sher Ali told AFP.
While some people might prefer care over haste when it comes to electrics, Mohammad Nauman lit up the crowd in Lahore as he wired a household plug in a dazzling 35 seconds.
Elsewhere, Daniel Gill and Mohammad Rizwan set a new record for heading a football between them, managing 335 consecutive headers in three minutes 45 seconds.
But there was heartache for one contender, whose bid to claim the record for most t-shirts donned in three minutes was disallowed when officials ruled he had failed to smooth down all of the 59 shirts properly.
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
you know we have come down to a level where a little solidarity in such a small gesture should be appreciated.The other times we are together are protests or mobs.So lets please allow such efforts to unite us towards something bigger and more substantial.
It is good to see people in Pakistan moving away from pastime terrorism to more normal activities. Hope this continues.
Shahbaz Shareef Zindabad
it would be – if he did this as Pakistan Youth Festival rather playing provincial politics and call it Punjab Youth Festival. I watch the transmission where at least a million references were made to him and punjab, punjab, punjab, Of course as pakistani we all love punjab as any other province, but Punjabis are Pakistanis first. Sadly, this is an election “booster teeka” given to awaam. Where were they hiding for the last 5 years ??
Anyhow… all efforts to bring peace and some fun for the awaam is highly appreciated.
Anything to focus kids competeing with rest of the world is better than competing internally and fighting over religous and ethinic differences.
what????
why to show world this.. Your country based on ideology first change it then show the world whatever you want
Such activities must be highly appreciated and promoted in the other parts of Pakistan. Congratulations Pakistan !
Good work! These are youngsters who are about to change the way business is run in Pakistan and starting from such records they will make history in all fields soon… keep it up… and go all the way to even important things…
Such events should be encouraged in all parts of the country.
Finally, media is giving something hopeful about Pakistan. Thank you Dawn.
Well done Pakistan, congratulations Pakistanis you have shown to the world that all is not wrong here. 99.9% of the Pakistanis are peace loving & contributing to the peace & welfare of the world.
Wow! What a great achievement?????
Ok, you make one and lighten the name of the land, please!!!
42, 813 people singing the National Anthem? Would’ve been much better if all of them had gone on the streets to clean up their city.
You are so right, I share your sentiment and cleaning the streets would have been so beneficial to their everyday lives.
These 42,813 should besiege the prime minister’s and president’s offices and block the parliament against the energy crisis in Islamabad.
Have you dared to clean your street with your neighbouhood? or to sing the national anthem with your neghbouhood?
I believe you’ve not done either. So, let other people do at least one of the things.
shahida … how many time u clean ur street and encourage others to do so…. please appritiate those who did it for our country… Pakistan zindabad…
42, 813 people singing the National Anthem? would’ve been better if all of them had gone on the streets and tried cleaning up their city.
Sick
Janay dai Tamar if you want clean then do it, it’s much easier to sit on a cozy sofa and fire off these comment :>)
How about creating world records in Human rights, education, minority rights? Maybe next time.
Your comments are pretentious. These people are entitled to levity and laughter as much as anybody else. And they well know they have work to do on other fronts.
For God Sake, think positive… at least sometime…
With all due respect Mubashir, world records such as singing the National anthem have no effect on people and their everyday lives.
@Yousuf: You are encouraged to bring smiles. please come forward, we are with you.
These record breaking activities are light-hearted & encouraging and a step towards bringing the constructive side of masses & a diversion from the destructive plots they become a part of.
This is the positive image of Pakistan. The whole world should see and encourage it. Local and international media should promote it like they do in the case of terrorist attacks and negative news.
It maybe positive image but I much prefer not hear about any killings, bombings or corruption news for about a week from Pakistan. Now that would be a positive start.
positive image is based on tolerance, education, civic sense, health care facilities, tourism etc. NOT on 42 thousand people singing national anthem. Please be realistic.
So, the activities projected something negative? please be optimistic. we need a room to breathe, only after that we would be able to create education and other humanly services possible for the society. Lets not discourage holders of these positive sides.
realistic people with views like yourself are spreading the negativity that has somehow become inherent in our national system and media. For Allah’s sake – think positive