Paris, 6 September 2024 (TDI): Pakistan’s para-athlete Haider Ali has won a bronze medal in the Men’s Discus Throw Final final at the Paralympic Games at Stade de France.
Haider Ali, who won a gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, made a throw of 52.28 metres in the first attempt and ruled the rooster for two rounds.
However, he made three consecutive foul attempts, allowing Canada’s Jesse Zesseu to take the lead in the third round with a 52.81m throw.
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Jesse couldn’t hold the lead with more than one round as Uzbekistan’s Yuldashev Tolibboy made a throw of 56.03 in the fifth round to confirm his gold medal.
Haider tried harder and improved on his previous best to a 52.54m throw in the fifth attempt – the third best in the event.
Resultantly, Uzbek athlete Tolibboy won gold, Jesse won Silver, while Haider Ali bagged a bronze in the event.
Haider Ali’s Achievements
Haider Ali rose to prominence in 2010 when he won gold in the Long Jump F37, and a bronze in the 100m T38 event in Guangzhou.
His best year was in 2018 when he bagged two golds (Discus Throw and Javelin Throw) and a bronze in the Long Jump event.
In the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, Haider made a throw of 51.23 metres in the F37 category to ensure a direct qualification for the 2024 Paris Games.
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In 2020, he became the first Pakistani to win a gold medal at the Paralympics in the Tokyo Games.
Celebrations
Felicitation messages poured in as soon as Haider’s medal was confirmed.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the para-athlete on his victory.
“Congratulations Haider Ali on winning the bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics,” the premier posted on X.
“Your courage and determination are a source of inspiration for the entire nation,” he added.
Pakistan’s embassy in France also congratulated the Pakistani Discus star on his “spectacular success.”
Former Pakistan captain and two ICC events winner Sarfaraz Ahmed also felicitated the athlete.
“Another day, another athlete making us proud,” Sarfaraz wrote on X.
