Faiqa Riaz Sets New Pakistan 100m Record at Commonwealth Games Despite Missing Semi-Final
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Pakistani sprinter Faiqa Riaz delivered a historic performance at the Commonwealth Games by setting a new national record in the women’s 100-meter event, even though she narrowly missed qualification for the semi-finals.
Competing at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, the 26-year-old clocked 11.64 seconds, becoming the fastest female sprinter in Pakistan’s history.
New National Record
Faiqa’s time of 11.64 seconds broke the previous national record of 11.81 seconds, which had stood since the 2010 South Asian Games.
Speaking after the race, Faiqa said she was pleased to achieve the goal she had set for herself despite facing various challenges during her preparation.
“I am really happy with my performance and thankful to Allah,” she said, adding that breaking the national record was a dream she had worked hard to achieve.
Narrowly Misses Semi-Final Spot
Faiqa finished fourth in her heat, missing qualification for the semi-finals by just 0.12 seconds.
Australia’s Torrie Lewis won the heat in 11.15 seconds, while Geolyna Dowdye of Antigua finished second with 11.28 seconds. Kishawna Niles of Barbados secured the final qualifying position with a time of 11.52 seconds.
Although disappointed to miss out on the next round, Faiqa said she chose to focus on the positive outcome of setting a new national record.
Learning From Previous International Experience
Faiqa reflected on her experience at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she admitted nerves affected her performance.
She said she approached the Commonwealth Games with greater confidence and focused on maintaining a positive mindset before the race.
According to Faiqa, her coach Fayyaz Ahmed encouraged her to trust her training and remain confident before stepping onto the track.
Years of Hard Work
The national record is the result of years of dedicated training, with Faiqa regularly spending several hours each day preparing at Punjab Stadium in Lahore.
She also acknowledged the support of her coaches, Fayyaz Ahmed and Gohar Shahbaz, as well as officials from the Pakistan Olympic Association.
Positive Outlook
While she narrowly missed a place in the semi-finals, Faiqa said she is proud of her achievement and remains motivated for future competitions.
With her new national record, she has marked an important milestone for Pakistani athletics and will look to build on this performance in upcoming international events.
