By Awais Saleem, IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistan’s gold-medallist wrestlers, Azhar Hussain and Muhammad Inam, were given a rousing reception at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal international airport Saturday evening on their return to the country from the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Azhar downed his Nigerian rival Ebikewenimo Welson in the 55 kg freestyle category to clinch Pakistan’s first CWG gold in wrestling in 40 years while Inam overpowered Indian Anuj Kumar in 84 kg category to give the fans back home something to cheer.
On their return home, they were showered with rose-petals while the happy crowd chanted slogans in admiration.
“We are happy to bring this happiness for our countrymen and hope that this will result in reviving the declining culture of wrestling in the country,” said a beaming Azhar while talking to media.
Inam said that “the prayers of family and friends were instrumental in achieving this honour” adding that “it was a special feeling to win the gold against an Indian wrestler in the final”.
“We are determined to bag more laurels for the country with the support of the authorities concerned,” he remarked.
The Pakistan government has announced Rs.five million for both gold medallists, employed with the army, and the corps commander Multan has also announced help in rebuilding Azhar’s house in Jatoi, a remote town in interior Punjab.
His house was washed away in recent floods that left more than 20 million people displaced and over 1,700 dead across the country.