Pakistan’s premier para-athlete Haider Ali has won silver in the men’s F37 discus throw at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, on Wednesday, narrowly missing out on gold by just 19 centimetres.
The 41-year-old recorded a best throw of 57.20 metres to finish second behind Uzbekistan’s Kudratillokhon Marufkhujaev, who claimed gold with 57.39m, setting a new Asian Para Games record. India’s Haney secured bronze with a throw of 57.04m.
Ali recorded attempts of 51.63m, 56.51m, 54.98m, 53.65m, 57.20m and 54.45m, with his fifth throw proving decisive. Both Ali and Haney achieved personal bests in the competition, while Haney finished just 16 centimetres behind the Pakistani athlete.
Uzbekistan’s Tolibboy Yuldashev finished fourth with 55.39m, followed by Japan’s Yamato Shimbo with 51.31m. Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Mukimov placed sixth with 49.90m, while Thailand’s Thanaphon Kongsao finished seventh with 36.34m.
Ali said that he had spent a year preparing for the continental competition, highlighting the importance of the event to his career.
The Gujranwala-born athlete has built an impressive international record over the years. He won gold in the discus throw at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, having previously claimed silver in the long jump at Beijing 2008 and bronze in the same event at Rio 2016. He also won bronze in the discus throw at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
At the Asian Para Games, Ali has won four gold medals and two bronze medals before his latest appearance in Nagoya, further establishing himself as one of Pakistan’s most successful para-athletes.
The world record in the men’s F37 discus throw stands at 59.75m, set by Uzbekistan’s Khusniddin Norbekov at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
