Pakistan will be represented by a single athlete at the 17th Paralympic Games in Paris, with Haider Ali set to compete in the discus throw event. The Games, taking place from August 28 to Sept. 8, will see Ali accompanied by a coach and a chef. At 40 years old, Haider Ali is a seasoned athlete with a remarkable track record, including five gold, two silver, and three bronze medals from international competitions for disabled athletes. Notably, he secured Pakistan's first gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a discus throw of 55.26 meters. The national team is scheduled to depart for Paris on August 26. Haider Ali, who hails from Gujranwala and suffers from cerebral palsy, made history by winning Pakistan’s first medal in the long jump at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008. The Paris Paralympics will feature 549 events across 22 sports, with athletes housed in the Olympic Village, which can accommodate 17,000 people. Around 45,000 volunteers will support the Games. The largest contingents are from China (284 members), Britain (225), France (211), Australia (160), the USA (151), and Italy (141), with India already in Paris with an 84-member team.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan