Tag: Tokyo Olympics 2021

  • Celebrities laud Arshad Nadeem for hitting a milestone at Olympics

    Celebrities laud Arshad Nadeem for hitting a milestone at Olympics

    Notable members of the entertainment industry have expressed their appreciation for a ‘Javelin Throw’ player Arshad Nadeem who has secured the first position in the qualifying round of Javelin throw finals in Tokyo Olympics 2020 and made Pakistan proud.

    Nadeem was in group B of the qualification event and topped his group to make it to the finals. His overall performance marked him as the third-highest thrower in both the groups combined, behind India’s Neeraj Chopra and Germany’s world number one Johannes Vetter.

    Here’s a list of tweets of mainstream celebrities, congratulating Arshad on his achievement:

    Celebrities also wished him luck for the final contest on August 7.

  • US gymnast Suni Lee to delete Twitter after blaming missing out on gold due to social media

    US gymnast Suni Lee to delete Twitter after blaming missing out on gold due to social media

    US gymnast Suni Lee has put her imperfect performance on the uneven bars down to being distracted by social media.

    A break-out star at the Tokyo Olympics, Lee won gold in the individual all-around and silver in the team all-around at this year’s games.

    Her achievements made history, as she became the first Asian-American woman to win gold in the Olympics’ all-around competition.

    The 18-year-old also took bronze for the uneven bars, but despite her success, told reporters she had been disappointed not to do better, explaining that she considered the bars to be “my thing”.

    Lee was the clear favourite to win the uneven bars final, but uncharacteristic errors and an uneven performance meant Belgium’s Nina Derwael and Russia’s Anastasiia Iliankova were able to take first and second place.

    “Bars is something I really cherish,” Lee said after the competition, reports the Associated Press. “So when I mess it up, it really sucks.”

    Lee was positive about being able to go home with bronze, silver and gold medals, but expressed regret that her wins weren’t exactly what she had envisioned:

    “It’s really cool,” Lee said in the report. “I just wish the bronze medal was a beam medal, not bars.”

    Explaining to People, Lee said she thought social media had played a part in her being less than her best on Sunday, saying she had “got distracted and lost focus a little bit when I won the gold medal” in the all-around three days earlier.

    She also admitted that she has spent a lot of time on social media while in Tokyo.

  • Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem tops his group in Javelin Throw qualification at Tokyo Olympics

    Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem tops his group in Javelin Throw qualification at Tokyo Olympics

    It was a momentous day for athletics in Pakistan when javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem hurled a massive 85.16m throw to reach the finals of the Men’s Javelin Throw event in Tokyo Olympics.

    Nadeem was in group B of the qualification event and topped his group to make it into the finals. His overall performance marked him as the third-highest thrower in both the groups combined, behind India’s Neeraj Chopra and Germany’s World number one Johannes Vetter.

    Soon after Nadeem ensured a final spot, Twitterati rejoiced over the fact that they will see a lip-smacking India vs Pakistan contest in the finals of the event on August 7.

    Here are some of the Tweets:

    Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Provincial Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti and Punjab Assembly MPA Andleeb Abbas lauded the 24-year-old athlete for making the nation proud for his achievement.

  • British swimmer Tom Daley knits while watching Olympic springboard final

    British swimmer Tom Daley knits while watching Olympic springboard final

    British swimmer Tom Daley, the Olympic gold medalist, caused a stir among Olympic TV viewers watching the women’s 3m springboard final on Sunday morning, when the cameras panned to the spectator stands and caught Tom watching the action while knitting.

    Social media was deluged with images of the 27-year-old, wearing his Team GB kit and obligatory mask, wielding needles and purple wool in the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

    The moment came ahead of the third round of dives, shortly after China’s Shi Tingmao completed her second dive, cementing her lead. No British divers were competing.

    Read More – German gymnasts wear full-body suits at Olympics to promote freedom of choice

    “The one thing that has kept me sane throughout this whole process is my love for knitting and crochet and all things stitching,” Daley said in a video posted to his knitting and crochet account.

    He also made a little medal case to prevent it from any scratches. The pouch is emblazoned with the Union Jack on one side and the Japanese flag on the other.

    The British diver, who won his first Olympic gold alongside Matty Lee in the synchronised 10m platform event last Monday, has called knitting “his secret weapon”.

  • German gymnasts wear full-body suits at Olympics to promote freedom of choice

    German gymnasts wear full-body suits at Olympics to promote freedom of choice

    The German women’s gymnastics team wore full-body suits in qualifications at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday instead of their traditional bikini cut version to encourage all women to wear what makes them feel comfortable and to promote freedom of choice, reports Reuters.

    According to the German Gymnastics Federation, this act is against sexualisation in gymnastics. The aim is to present aesthetically- without feeling uncomfortable, they added in a tweet.

    The International Gymnastics Federation said that attire with full or half sleeves and leg coverings are allowed in the competition, as long as the colour matches the leotard (one-piece garment with no legs).

    Sarah Voss, one team member, first wore the suit while competing for the European championships in April.

    “We want to make sure everyone feels comfortable and we show everyone that they can wear whatever they want and look amazing, feel amazing, whether it is in a long leotard or a short one,” she said.

    After this, the entire team decided to participate in the multi-international sports event in red and white unitards and leggings extending to the ankles, in contrast to the costume worn by many other female gymnasts.

    Moreover, their mutual decision earned them praise from fellow competitors in Tokyo.

    Until now women and girls have only covered their legs in international competitions for religious reasons.

  • Notable personalities laud Talha Talib for his unbeatable Olympics debut

    Notable personalities laud Talha Talib for his unbeatable Olympics debut

    Weightlifter Talha Talib has finished fifth in the 67 kilograms (KG) weightlifting competition of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and Pakistanis lauded the debutant for his efforts.

    Read More – Pakistani athletes participating in Tokyo Olympics

    The 21-year-old Talha was just two points short of gaining an Olympic medal for Pakistan after 29 years.

    The Gujranwala-born, who was on his Olympics’ debut, finished with a total of 320 points as he broke his own national record by lifting 150 kg in snatch while he lifted 170 kg in clean and jerk.

    China’s Chen Lijun bagged gold while Colombia’s Luis Javier Mosquera and Italy’s Mirko Zanni clinched silver and bronze medals respectively.

    Many notable people, including politicians, cricketers, and celebrities lauded the 21-year-old for his efforts.

    https://twitter.com/76Shadabkhan/status/1419280792497311747?s=20

    Thanking everyone, the Olympian turned to his social media and wrote: “Alhamdulillah! Thank you everyone for your support and your love. In Sha Allah next time it will be better. Remember me in your prayers Special thanks to my father, my family, my coach Naveed Aslam Malik (late), and Pakistan Weightlifting Federation.”

  • Two Syrian brothers hug while competing on opposing sides at Tokyo Olympics

    Two Syrian brothers hug while competing on opposing sides at Tokyo Olympics

    Two Syrian refugee brothers have met on the sidelines of the Tokyo Olympics, with one representing the refugee team and the other representing the official Syrian team.

    According to details, Alaa Maso, from the Refugee Olympic Team, was photographed hugging his brother Mohamed Maso as they both prepared to compete in the international tournament that opened on Friday.

    Both brothers are originally from the city of Aleppo and now live in Germany. Their father was a swimming coach, a sport which Alaa took up, while Mohamed took up the triathlon.

    According to his profile on the International Olympic Committee website, Alaa left Syria in 2015 after his training facilities were damaged during the fighting that first engulfed the country in 2011. He resettled in Germany and took up swimming again.

    During the competition, he is swimming alongside another Syrian refugee swimmer, Yusra Mardini, who he has known since childhood.

    Mohamed also left for Europe in 2015 after the war began to threaten his safety, writing on his website that “even after days of walking and being tired arriving at a refugee center, he would put on his running shoes and run”.

    Netizens are praising the two brothers hugging at the ceremony on social media.

  • Pakistan cricketers extend best wishes to Tokyo Olympics contingent

    Pakistan cricketers extend best wishes to Tokyo Olympics contingent

    Pakistani cricketers have extended best wishes to the national contingent taking part in the Tokyo Olympics.

    The quadrennial sporting extravaganza, initially scheduled for summer 2020, started on Friday with an opening ceremony without spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi and women team’s all-rounders Aliya Riaz and Nida Dar gave their encouragement and support to their fellow national athletes who would be vying for glory in nine different events.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a video with messages of the seven men and two women players.

    Wishing good luck to the Tokyo Olympics contingent, all-rounder Aliya Riaz said: “Please enjoy yourself and give it your best shot; we are all behind you.”

    All-rounder Nida Dar said she was rooting for Pakistani athletes as it was a big occasion for them and vowed to give them all the support they needed.

    “I am backing the Pakistan Tokyo Olympics contingent to do well in the biggest sporting extravaganza. It is a big occasion for these athletes; we would be giving them all the support they need and would follow their progress,” she said.

    Especially wishing Mahoor Shahzad, Bisma Khan, and Arshad Nadeem the best of luck, former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed hoped the athletes would bring glory to the country.

    “I want to wish Pakistan’s Tokyo Olympics contingent the very best. My best wishes are with all the athletes, especially Mahoor Shahzad, Bisma Khan, and Arshad Nadeem. I am sure you all will give it your best to bring glory to the country,” Sarfaraz said.

    Shadab Khan, expressing his support, said: “My best wishes are with all the athletes who are representing Pakistan in the Tokyo Olympics. Go well.”

    “Good luck to the entire Pakistan Tokyo Olympics contingent, especially Shah Hussain and Talha Talib,” pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi said.

    Wishing the best for the athletes, Faheem Ashraf said: “My best wishes are with Pakistani athletes competing in the Tokyo Olympics. Good luck and go well.”

    Batsman Fakhar Zaman said: “I want to wish the very best to Pakistan’s Tokyo Olympics contingent, especially Mahoor Shahzad and Najma Parveen.”

    Asking the players to enjoy themselves while they are out there and assuring that the whole country was backing them, Hasan Ali expressed his confidence in the contingent.

    “My best wishes are with our Tokyo Olympics contingent. Please […] enjoy yourself and give your best. The entire country is backing you,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Mohammad Hasnain added: “My best wishes are with the athletes and officials representing Pakistan in the Tokyo Olympics, especially Arshad Nadeem and Bisma Khan.”

    Pakistan athletes would be competing in 200 metre Athletics, Badminton – Women Singles, Judo – 100 Kg, Shooting – 10 metre Air Pistol, Swimming 100 metre Freestyle Men’s and 50 metre Women’s, and 67kg Weightlifting.

    Pakistan’s last Olympics medal was the bronze the national hockey team achieved in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The last individual medal was the bronze grabbed by boxer Hussain Shah in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

    Pakistan Tokyo Olympics contingent (athletes):

    Arshad Nadeem – Javelin Throw

    Bisma Khan — Swimming 50 metre Freestyle women

    Ghulam Mustafa Bashir — Rapid Fire Pistol 25 metre

    Gulfam Joseph — Shooting 10 metre Air Pistol

    Mahoor Shahzad — Badminton Women’s Singles

    Muhammad Khalil Akhtar — Rapid Fire Pistol 25 metre

    Najma Parveen — Athletics 200 metres

    Shah Hussain Shah — Judo 100 Kg

    Syed Muhammad Haseeb Khan — Swimming 100 metre Freestyle Men’s

    Talha Talib — Weightlifting 67kg