Pakistan Wins Gold, Silver at World Rowing Indoor Championships

By Farzana Chaudhry | Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: Pakistan secured a gold and a silver medal in the Under-21 category at the World Rowing Indoor Championships, as more than 2,200 athletes from around the globe competed in the virtual event.
Representing University of the Punjab, athletes Abdur Rehman and Zarq Khan delivered outstanding performances in the 1-Minute Sprint events, earning Pakistan a double podium finish.
Gold Medal – 21–22 Lightweight Men (1 Minute)
Muhammad Abdul Rehman of Pakistan clinched first place with an impressive distance of 377 meters, outperforming strong competitors including Luca Delval of France (374m) and Youssef Abdelaziz of Egypt (374m). This gold medal marks a significant achievement for Pakistan in indoor rowing, particularly in the lightweight category.
Silver Medal – 21–22 Men (Open Category, 1 Minute)
In the Open 21–22 Men category, Zarq Khan secured second place with a powerful effort of 385 meters. Vladislav Andersons of Latvia claimed gold with 394 meters, while Finn Söllner of Germany finished third with 379 meters.
The virtual competitions were held worldwide, with the Pakistan Rowing Federation organizing Pakistan’s participation from the Punjab University Sports Gymnasium at the New Campus in Lahore.
Vice Chancellor of Punjab University, Dr Muhammad Ali, and Secretary of the Pakistan Olympic Association, Khalid Mehmood, attended the event as chief guests. Also present were PU Director Sports Dr Shabbir Sarwar, President of the Pakistan Rowing Federation Hamdan Nazir, Secretary Islamabad Olympic Association Rizwanul Haque Razi, Secretary Pakistan Rowing Federation Zaheer Ahmed, Secretary Pakistan Boxing Federation Major Irfan, and Pakistan Rowing Team Coach Abdur Rehman.
Speaking to the media, Dr Muhammad Ali described the achievements of Abdul Rehman from PU Law College and Zarq Khan from Hailey College as a proud moment for both the country and Punjab University. He thanked the Pakistan Olympic Association and the Pakistan Rowing Federation for their support and expressed hope for continued success in upcoming international competitions.
PU Director Sports Dr Shabbir Sarwar also acknowledged the support of Khalid Mehmood and praised the Pakistan Rowing Federation leadership and coaching staff for their dedication, expressing optimism for further collaboration and achievements in the future.