ISLAMABAD, The odds were stacked against them, there were loud protests over the decision to allow their participation. With precious little training and even less exposure, they lad a tough job in proving a point.
Yet when the Pakistani women’s track and field team cut ice by winning their first medal, its value was much more to several champions of their cause than the bronze it turned out to be. It was worth more than its weight in gold.
Yes, the home team’s 4x100m relay squad, Naveed Halai, Nau shaba Khan, Cheryl Lucas and Shabana Akhtar will go down in history as Pakistan’s first women to have won a medal at the SAF Games, and in all likelihood, internationally.
Victims of verbal abuse and the stray case of stone pelting, the winners immediately became the darlings of most people present at the Jinnah Stadium, watching history being made, Pakistan had provided proof of its changing attitudes.
Talking to sports scribes, the foursome sounded very thrilled. “We are happy and excited as we don’t think we could have done better with just three months of training,” they said in one voice.
Some distance away from the track, Ms. Shaheen Khan, Pakis tan Amateur Athletics Federation Secretary (Women), was choked with emotion. Tears welling up in her eyes, Ms. Khan said: “I was sure about the relay bronze and was glad the girls lived up to our expectations and justified the decision to field them here. God willing, our women will take part in more international meets.
Up in the stands the foursome’s 15 other teammates were deliriously pleased as if they had all won a medal each. The relay Tunner’s victory was their own as it had underscored that it was possible for Pakistani women to do well with more such exposure.
The decision to allow women to take part in the fourth SAF: ‘Games were lauded by sports lovers in the Country, who were quick to praise table tennis players Nazo Shakoor and Tayyaba Rasool who became the first Pakistani women medal winner when they finished third in the team championship.
Ms Shaheen Khan, who is also the Women’s Affairs Adviser to the SAF Games Organizing Co mmittee Chairman said: “This was the first step to train our women for that ultimate test of an athlete, the Olympic Games.
“It is now imperative that our women, who have ample potential, must be given their due chances to train and compete in more international meets, Fora Start, we are trying to send a four or five member women’s team for the ATF at Delhi next month”, she said.
At the Moment, however, no ‘One knows if the religious leaders Who oppose the Participation of Women in outdoor sports will ever have a change of heart, given the Pakistani women’s disliking for shorts.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 17, 1989
