Pakistani wrestler Muhammad Inam clinched gold medal in the ongoing 5th Asian Beach Games while Pakistan took overall first position in the Wrestling event being played at Banang, Vietnam on Sunday.
Muhammad Inam recorded a stunning victory against Iranian wrestler in the 97kg plus category. "Winning gold medal out of 76 participants from the whole of Asia is an honour for me and my country," a jubilant Inam told on phone.
"Listing national anthem after winning gold for my country, was a memorable moments of my life and thanked my countrymen, coaches who encouraged me a lot," a sobbing Inam added.
The wrestling event played at Bien Dong Park and besides Muhammad Inam, Asad gold silver medal in 80kg plus weight category while another member of the three-man team Nazir remained at fifth position in the plus 70kg weight.
Chairman Pakistan Wrestling Federation and former Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah, President Chaudhry Asghar, Secretary Arshad Sattar, international coach Qayyum Shinwari, who is also Secretary KP Wrestling Association, congratulated the whole nation for winning one gold and one silver medals besides taking first position overall in Asia.
Syed Aqil Shah in his brief chat, disclosed that Pakistan was struggling at 24 in the international ranking but with the first position overall in the 5th Asian Beach Games, Pakistan jumped to 19 at the international ranking which is certainly a great achievement of the three-member team. He also congratulated the team management including coach.
He said, Muhammad Inam also won two bronze medals in the men's freestyle 80kg event at the 4th Asian Beach Games when defeating Syrian Arab Republic's Maher Alkhayat 3-0 in Phuket, Thailand.
Danang City of Vietnam is hosting the Games wherein a total of 2,253 athletes from all across Asia taking part in 171 events and 22 sports. The Games opened on September 24 and closing on October 3.
It is the second time for Vietnam to host an Asia level multi-sports event, after Hanoi held Asian Indoor Games in 2009 and Southeast Asian Games in 2003. However, this is the first time that an event is being organized in Hanoi.