Pakistan’s Najma Parveen finished last in the women’s 200m warm-up

Pakistani Olympian Najma Parveen participated in the Tokyo Olympics as the country’s best female sprinter, but withdrew from the competition in less than half a minute.

The 31-year-old Najma competed in the 2nd heat race in the women’s 200 meters and finally finished 7th. The Pakistani athlete’s timing is not her position, but her timing, recorded at 28.12 seconds.

Pakistan’s top athlete, who held the women’s 200m national record with 23.69 seconds, is 2.88 seconds behind the sixth athlete in the Tokyo Olympics.

It is worth mentioning that when her qualification was withdrawn by the Pakistan Athletics Federation (AFP) without consent, Najma’s Olympic journey almost stopped. However, the Pakistan Olympic Federation managed to get her back into the Tokyo Olympics.

POA also slammed the Pakistan Athletics Federation and stated that AFP’s actions flagrantly ignored and violated the rights of athletes set out in the “Athlete Declaration” and opposed all efforts to ensure women’s participation in sports without discrimination.

It is worth mentioning that the Pakistan Olympic Association and the Pakistan Athletics Federation are at odds with each other for various reasons. After its athletes tested positive at the last South Asian Games in 2019, POA suspended AFP membership.

Major General (retired) Athletics Federation Chairman Akram Sahi (Akram Sahi) is also a long-time opponent of POA Chairman Gen (retired) Arif Hassan.