Pakistan’s Olympic history is synonymous with hockey glory, with all of its gold medals coming from the sport. The legendary Pakistani hockey team of the 1950s captured their first gold at the 1956 Melbourne Games, and their last medal at the grandest stage was also won by the hockey team at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
However, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Pakistan’s contingent arrived without a hockey team for the first time in history, marking a significant departure from their past Olympic successes. This absence has sparked a debate among Pakistani sports enthusiasts, particularly after a commentator’s remarks during the opening ceremony.
“Pakistan is a country of over 240 million people, but only 7 athletes are competing at the Olympics,” the commentator stated, drawing criticism from Pakistani fans who felt humiliated by the observation.
Despite the absence of a hockey team, Pakistan’s contingent of 18 athletes is determined to make an impact in Paris. Javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem is considered the country’s medal hope, having won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
In the 10m air pistol men’s qualification, Joseph Gulfam finished 22nd, while Kishmala Talat placed 31st in the women’s event. In the mixed team event, Talat and Gulfam secured the 14th spot. Swimmers Ahmed Durrani and Jehanara Nabi also failed to advance to the medal rounds.
Pakistan’s performance in Paris has raised questions about the state of sports in the country. The absence of a hockey team and the limited number of athletes competing have highlighted the challenges faced by Pakistani athletes in achieving international success.
