Faiqa Riaz Defends Pakistani Athletes, Praises Arshad Nadeem’s Historic Gold at Paris Olympics
Pakistan’s Olympian sprinter Faiqa Riaz has defended her fellow athletes against criticism following their participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, emphasizing that their selection was based on merit, not favoritism. In an exclusive interview with Geo News on Friday, Faiqa highlighted the significance of Arshad Nadeem’s gold medal victory, which she believes has greatly enhanced Pakistan’s reputation on the global stage.
Reflecting on her Olympic experience, the 24-year-old sprinter expressed disappointment over the harsh judgment directed at Pakistani athletes. “If there were better athletes, they should have gone. We were the best in Pakistan, which is why the IOC approved our participation,” she said. Faiqa stressed that participating in the Olympics is a tremendous honor, but it was disheartening to witness the criticism aimed at those representing the country.
Faiqa, who considers herself fortunate to have competed in the Olympics, shared her journey from humble beginnings at Punjab Stadium to the world-renowned Paris Olympic Stadium. “The Paris Olympics were only the second international event of my career. I first competed in the 2018 South Asian Junior Athletics, but due to COVID-19, there were no events afterward. I suffered from injuries for two years, and when I fully recovered, I didn’t get to compete in any events before the Olympics. I went straight into the Paris Olympics,” Faiqa explained.
On August 2, Faiqa’s Olympic run came to an end when she finished sixth in the preliminary round of Heat 2 in the 100-meter event, which led to her elimination from the competition. Despite this setback, she remains optimistic about her future and the future of other Pakistani athletes.
“We need more opportunities to compete. Our training methods differ from those of athletes in other countries. I had the chance to learn from foreign athletes, observing their warm-up routines and training techniques. Now, I will incorporate these techniques into my own training. I realized that with more competition, my timing would have improved, but unfortunately, I couldn’t advance beyond the first heat,” Faiqa remarked.
Praising Arshad Nadeem’s gold medal win, Faiqa shared how the victory sparked celebrations among the athletes in Paris, with chants of “Olympic record” and the exchange of Pakistan pins. “This is something to be immensely proud of,” she added.
Faiqa concluded by reiterating that the athletes who represented Pakistan at the Olympics were chosen based on their abilities and not favoritism, underscoring the dedication and hard work that earned them their place on the world stage.
