GOLD COAST: Pakistan’s promising 18-year old weightlifter Talha Talib grabbed a bronze medal in the men’s 62kg snatch category of the XXI Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games when he lifted 132kg to create a new record here on Thursday.

Talib, who had won a gold medal at the 2016 Commonwealth Youth Championships held at Penang, Malaysia in 2016 and was declared the Best Youth Weightlifter besides also winning a silver medal at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, finished his weight category with 283kg at third position behind Malaysian Muhammad Azmil (288kg) and Moren Baru of Papus New Guinea with (285kg) respectively.

Talha made 127kg and 130kg in the first and second attempts before finishing the snatch at a record 132kg. He recorded 146kg, 151kg in the Clean & Jerk after make an aggregated total of 283kg.

Pakistan also got a steady start in boxing when Gul Zaib shocked William Le Poullain of Guernsey in 69kg weight. The bout continue for three rounds with both tied at first two rounds on points. It was a thrilling third round in which Gul Zaib while utilizing his 1 and 2 combinations of punches succeeded in securing win against his strong rival William.

With this win, Gul Zaib reached to the round of 32. He will now face Aidon Walsh of Northern Ireland in the pre-quarter-finals. Syed Muhammad Asif in 52kg will clash against Brain Agina of Kenya ion the Mens 52kg quarter-finals, Ali Ahmad in the 60kg will face Colum French of England in the Mens 60kg pre-quarter-finals, and Awais Ali Khan in the 81kg had earlier in the quarter-finals before taking a bye.

In squash played at Oxenford Squash Complex, Pakistan Farhan Zaman and Tayyab Aslam lost in the second round despite recorded first round wins while in women singles Faiza Zafar and Madina were beaten in the first round. Tayyab lost to Alan Clyne of Scotland 3-1, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9 and 11-7 while Farhan lost to James Willstrop of England in just 13 minute, the score was 11-5, 11-1 and 11-7.

Farhan and Tayyab earlier recorded win in the first round. Farhan beat Joe Chapman of British Virgin Islands 3-1, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4 and 11-6. In the second match Tayyab beat Neville Sorrentino of British Virgin Islands, the score was 11-3, 11-4 and 11-4.

In the first match Deon Saffery of Wales defeated Madina Zafar 11-6, 11-4 and 11-6 while Donna Urquhart of Australia, having thundering support of local spectators, defeated Pakistans Faiza Zafar in straight set, the score was 11-4, 11-3 and 11-6.

In the Weightlifting 32-year-old Pakistans Abdullah Ghafoor failed to impress in the 56kg weight category and got sixth position behind Malaysian Muhammad Azray who grabbed first gold medal by making a snatch of 114kg in first and 117kg in second attempts.

Besides in Clean and Jerk he cleared 135kg in the first, 138kg in the second and 144kg in the third and decisive attempt to record an aggregated total of 261kg for the gold medal, followed by Gururaja of India with 107kg and 111kg in snatch and 138kg in clean and jerk with his total weight 249 took silver medal and Chaturanga Lakmal of Sri Lanka with his 110kg and 114kg in the snatch attempts and recorded 131kg and 134kg with an aggregated total of 248kg won bronze medals.

Pakistans Abdullah got sixth position with his 101kg in snatch and 126 in clean and jerk to make an aggregated total of 227kg. Pakistan fielded Talha Talib in 62kg, Abu Sufan in 69kg, Usman Amjad in 94kg and Muhammad Nooh in +105kg. In the opening day swimming event Muhammad Has­eeb got sixth position in the second heat of 50m free style with his clock time 27.40sec. He will also compete in 100m free style, 50m and 100m back stroke while Bisma Khan is competing in the women 50m, 100m free style and 50m back stroke.

The athletics, shooting and wrestling events will be kicking off from Sunday, April 8, with 21-year-old Arshad Nadeem ready for a chance to show his skills in javelin throw.

In shooting event Ghurfan Adil will compete in the Mens 10 Air Rifle, M. Khail Aktar in 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, Aamer Iqbal in Mens Trap singles and along with M. Farruk Nadeem with double Trap and Usman Chand in Mens skeet event are somehow a medal hope along with wrestling and weightlifting.

In Badminton Pakistan lost to India and Scotland in their opening day matches. In mixed doubles India Satwik and N.Sikki beat M. Iran and Palwasha by 21-10 and 21-13 in 25m.

In Mens singles Srikanth beat Murad Ali Pakistan by 21-16 and 22-20 and in the Womens singles Sonia Nehwal beat Mahoor 21-7, 21-11. In the Men doubles Pranaav Chopra and Chirag Shetty beat Muhammad Imran and Murad Ali 21-9, 21-15 and in womens doubles Ashini and Ruthvika of India beat Mahoor and Palwasha by 21-06 and 21-10.

In the earlier match, Scotland beat Pakistan 5-0. In the mixed doubles Alexander Dunna and Eleanar O Donnell beat Murad Ali and Palwasha of Pakistan by 21-12 and 21-13, Kieran Merrilees overpowered Muhammad Irfan 21-6, 21-16 in the Mens singles, Kirsty Gilmour beat Mahoor Shehzad 21-6, 21-10 in 24m.

In womens singles, in Men’s doubles Martin Cambell and Patrick Machugh beat Murad Ali and Muhammad Irfan by 21-8 and 21-10 in 21m while in the women’s doubles Julie Machpherson and Eleanor O Donnell beat Mahoor and Palwasha Bashir 21-6, 21-4 in 20m. In the opening match of hockey Pakistan and Wales played a 1-1 draw. James Fartnam scored in the third session for Wales while Imran Butt tied the tally 1-1.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2018