For the upcoming Para Olympics, Pakistan will be represented by just one athlete, along with a coach and a chef de mission.
The 17th Para Olympics will be hosted in Paris, France, from August 28 to September 8. Pakistan’s contingent will consist of one para-athlete, a coach, and a chef de mission.
The sole athlete representing Pakistan will be 40-year-old all-rounder Haider Ali. Ali, who has previously won five gold, two silver, and three bronze medals in international competitions for disabled athletes, will defend his title in the discus throw event at the Paris Paralympics.
He won Pakistan’s first gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a throw of 55.26 meters.
The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) will cover the expenses for Haider Ali and his coach, Akbar Ali, while the chef de mission will bear his own costs.
The national team will depart from Islamabad to Paris on August 26.
Haider Ali, who hails from Gujranwala and suffers from cerebral palsy, made history by winning Pakistan’s first medal in long jump at the Beijing Para Olympics in 2008.
His participation in Paris will mark his unique record of competing in five consecutive Paralympics for Pakistan.
The Paris Paralympics will feature 549 events across 22 sports, with disabled athletes from around the world participating.
They will stay at the Olympic Village, which has a capacity of 17,000, and approximately 45,000 volunteers will be deployed.
China will have the largest contingent with 284 members, followed by the UK with 225, the host nation France with 211, Australia with 160, the US with 151, and Italy with 141. India has already sent an 84-member team to Paris.