Pakistan at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Pakistan competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.[1][2] Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] It was Pakistan's eighteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics.

Pakistan at the
2020 Summer Olympics
IOC codePAK
NOCNational Olympic Committee of Pakistan
Websitenocpakistan.org
in Tokyo, Japan
July 23, 2021 (2021-07-23) – August 8, 2021 (2021-08-08)
Competitors10 in 6 sports
Flag bearers (opening)Mahoor Shahzad
Muhammad Khalil Akhtar
Flag bearer (closing)Arshad Nadeem
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

This Olympics was Pakistan's best performance since 2000 with both Talha Talib & Arshad Nadeem reaching the finals of their respective events.[4][5][6][7] Gulfam Joseph also barely missed out on reaching the final of his event.[8][9]

Competitors

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Sport Men Women Total
Athletics 1 1 2
Badminton 0 1 1
Judo 1 0 1
Shooting 3 0 3
Swimming 1 1 2
Weightlifting 1 0 1
Total 7 3 10

Athletics

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Pakistani athletes further achieved the entry standards, either by qualifying time or by world ranking,[10] in the following track and field events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event):[11][12]

Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Track & road events
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Najma Parveen Women's 200 m 28.12 7 did not advance
Field events
Athlete Event Qualification Final
Distance Position Distance Position
Arshad Nadeem Men's javelin throw 85.16 3 Q 84.62 5

Badminton

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For the first time in history, Pakistan entered one badminton player into the Olympic tournament. Mahoor Shahzad accepted the invitation from the Tripartite Commission and the Badminton World Federation to compete in the women's singles.[13]

Athlete Event Group Stage Elimination Quarterfinal Semifinal Final / BM
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Rank Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Rank
Mahoor Shahzad Women's singles   Yamaguchi (JPN)
L (3–21, 8–21)
  Gilmour (GBR)
L (14–21, 14– 21)
3 Did not advance

Judo

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Pakistan qualified one judoka for the men's half-heavyweight category (100 kg) at the Games. Rio 2016 Olympian Shah Hussain Shah accepted a continental berth from the Asian zone as the nation's top-ranked judoka outside of direct qualifying position in the IJF World Ranking List of June 28, 2021.[14]

Athlete Event Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Repechage Final / BM
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Shah Hussain Shah Men's −100 kg   Darwish (EGY)
L 00–10
did not advance

Shooting

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Pakistani shooters achieved quota places for the following events by virtue of their best finishes at the 2018 ISSF World Championships, the 2019 ISSF World Cup series, and Asian Championships, as long as they obtained a minimum qualifying score (MQS) by May 31, 2020.[15]

Athlete Event Qualification Final
Points Rank Points Rank
Muhammad Khalil Akhtar Men's 25 m rapid fire pistol 572 15 did not advance
Ghulam Mustafa Bashir 579 10
Gulfam Joseph Men's 10 m air pistol 578 9

Swimming

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Pakistan received a universality invitation from FINA to send two top-ranked swimmers (one per gender) in their respective individual events to the Olympics, based on the FINA Points System of June 28, 2021.[16]

Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Muhammad Haseeb Tariq Men's 100 m freestyle 53.81 62 did not advance
Bisma Khan Women's 50 m freestyle 27.78 56

Weightlifting

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Pakistan received an invitation from the Tripartite Commission and the IWF to send Talha Talib in the men's 67-kg category to the Olympics, marking the country's return to the sport for the first time since 1976.

Athlete Event Snatch Clean & Jerk Total Rank
Result Rank Result Rank
Talha Talib Men's –67 kg 150 2 170 7 320 5

Non-competing sports

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Equestrian

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For the first time in history, Pakistan qualified one eventing rider into the Olympic equestrian competition, by finishing in the top two, outside the group selection, of the individual FEI Olympic Rankings for Group F (Africa and Middle East).[17][18] In September 2020, Azad Kashmir, who Usman Khan rode when he qualified, died after suffering a severe heart attack. Athletes and their horse qualify as a pair for the Olympics, leaving Khan's place at the Games in doubt.[19]

In 2021, Khan attempted to qualify aboard a new horse Kasheer, but failed to obtain the minimum eligibility requirements at the Sydney International Three-Day Event in May. The following outcome implied that he would not be eligible to start at the Olympics. Attempting to obtain the minimum requirements on back-to-back weeks was against the regulations set by FEI,[20] Khan competed the week after Sydney at an event in Naracoorte, where he suffered a rotational fall which resulted in the passing of Kasheer.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Pakistan to field 20-member contingent in Tokyo Games: POA". Dawn. May 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "First batch of Pakistan's Olympic squad leaves for Tokyo". Dawn. July 17, 2021.
  3. ^ "Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee". Olympics. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Arshad Nadeem misses out on medal but wins nation over". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  5. ^ "Pakistan hails Arshad Nadeem for 'unreal' effort at Tokyo Olympics". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  6. ^ "Tokyo Olympics: Talha narrowly misses out winning medal for Pakistan | SAMAA". Samaa TV. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  7. ^ Dawn.com (2021-07-25). "'Still proud of you': Weightlifter Talha Talib misses out on Olympic gold but a hero is born". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  8. ^ "Pakistan's Gulfam Joseph nearly misses out on finals spot in Olympic shooting". www.tribune.com.pk. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Gulfam's high-class effort goes in vain". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  10. ^ Salman, Muhmmad (13 January 2021). "Pakistan Rank in Olympics 2021". Financeupdates. Salman. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  11. ^ "iaaf.org – Top Lists". IAAF. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  12. ^ "IAAF Games of the XXXII Olympiad – Tokyo 2020 Entry Standards" (PDF). IAAF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  13. ^ Imran, Sohail (2 June 2021). "Badminton star Mahoor Shahzad to represent Pakistan in Tokyo Olympics". Geo TV. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  14. ^ Messner, Nicolas (22 June 2021). "Tokyo 2020: Official Olympic Qualification List". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Quota Places by Nation and Number". www.issf-sports.org/. ISSF. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  16. ^ "Tokyo Olympics Entry Lists Released, Swimming Begins July 24". Swimming World Magazine. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Pakistan's Usman Khan achieves Tokyo 2020 qualification". An Eventful Life. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  18. ^ "Tokyo 2020 team and individual quota places confirmed by FEI". FEI. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  19. ^ "First Pakistani athlete to earn Olympic equestrian place could have to requalify". www.insidethegames.biz. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  20. ^ "Clarification on the Eventing Qualification" (PDF). FEI. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Vale Usman Khan's Kasheer". An Eventful Life. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.