(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Pakistan’s Junior Swimmers Shine with Record-Breaking Performances at World Championships
Pakistan’s young swimmers made history at the World Junior Swimming Championships in Romania, setting multiple national records and showcasing their rising talent on the global stage.
Rayan Awan created headlines by clocking 30.87 seconds in the Men’s 50m Breaststroke, breaking a 17-year-old national record of 30.98 set by Abdul Aziz Chaudhry. The achievement is even more special as the previous record was set before Rayan was born. He secured the 58th position out of 86 international competitors.
Meanwhile, Azlan Sohail cemented his place as Pakistan’s new junior medley specialist. He broke the Under-16 records in both the 200m and 400m Individual Medley.
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In the 200m IM, Azlan clocked 2:14.18, surpassing the previous best of 2:20.22 held by Olympian Ahmed Durrani.
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In the 400m IM, he finished with 4:54.68, breaking Amaan Siddiqui’s 2022 mark of 4:57.86.
Azlan competed in 10 events ranging from sprints to mid-distance races, delivering consistent performances. He recorded 26.72 in the 50m Butterfly, 54.73 in the 100m Freestyle, and solid timings in multiple other categories.
Team Efforts and More Records
The momentum didn’t stop with individual events. The Pakistani team, featuring Azlan, Ali Mitha, Hareem Malik, and Meher Maqbool, set a new national record in the Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay with a time of 04:10.45.
On the women’s side, Hareem Malik stood out in breaststroke and sprint events, while Meher Maqbool broke the U16 record in the 200m Freestyle with 2:28.44. Young swimmer Raaqiah Aqeel, just 14 years old, also impressed in the backstroke events.
The women’s relay teams added further glory by breaking records in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay (4:48.46) and the 4x100m Medley Relay (5:12.25).
All records were officially confirmed by the Pakistan Swimming Federation.
A Bright Future Ahead
These outstanding performances highlight the growth of swimming in Pakistan and the potential of the nation’s junior athletes on the world stage. With continued support and training, these swimmers are paving the way for future international success.
