Why aren’t we making a fuss over Haider Ali?

September 14, 2008 at 2:34 pm 16 comments

After all he is the only Pakistani to have won a medal at the Paralympic Games in Beijing. He suffers from Cerebral Palsy. Haider created history when he won the silver medal for Pakistan in the Long Jump competition. Haider covered the distance of 6.44 meters, equal to the Tunisian competitor who covered the same distance but won the Gold Medal. Haider missed out on the Gold because in the preliminary rounds one of his five jumps, was rejected.

Pakistan has never won a medal in the Paralympic Games. This is a big deal. Why is there no celebration? Why is it that his photos are not plastered all over the print media? Why is he not being interviewed on all the television channels? Why hasn’t the government announced a cash prize as a reward?

If a cricketer makes a century (which hasn’t happened recently) everyone is talking about it, writing about it, zillions of prizes are announced, the President/PM call him to congratulate him. So anyone know if any of this happened when Haider won the only medal for Pakistan in Beijing? I googled and all i saw was a paragraph in The News and on APP – no photographs, no prize announcements, nothing … Do we really know how to recognize our achievers? Haider Ali is certainly someone we should shower with accolades.

Entry filed under: Posts.

Keep ’em coming Steve! Couldn’t resist putting up this quote

16 Comments Add your own

1. عمار - aMmAr | September 14, 2008 at 3:13 pm

Thanks for sharing this news with us, as none of us had any clue that we actually won a medal at Beijing Olympics. Its a shame how our print and electronic media chose not to share this important news with us. They never forget to put Shoaib in the headlines for his Shenanigans 😛
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2. awahid | September 14, 2008 at 3:39 pm

there are lots of “Y” in my heads as well, but in Pakistan no one cares.
I can only hope for better Pakistan.
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3. Vic | September 14, 2008 at 9:53 pm

I hope that when your blog post gets repeated and picked up by other blogs, that word will spread beyond bloggers, and then the mainstream media will take note… that there are wonderful things happening, that people want to know.
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4. Teeth Maestro | September 14, 2008 at 9:57 pm

Jehan Ara –

Good point – Im on it, he needs to be celebrated big time – its an honor which Pakistanis must appreacite
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5. Jehan | September 14, 2008 at 10:06 pm

@Ammar, well Dawn News did run it but I don’t think anyone interviewed him. I just think we should all do more to highlight his achievement.

@AWahid, hey such pessimism is not on. A lot of people care. I can see it on many of the blogs.

@Vic, well apparently that is going to happen, Teeth Maestro is already on it. TeaBreak will take up the feed. Soon it will be all over the blogosphere and then the traditional media will have to take notice.

@Teeth Maestro – great! Let’s spread the word around. It definitely is an honour and Haider must be made to feel that we appreciate his success.
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6. Haider Ali - Pakistan’s unsung Paralympic Medalist | Teeth Maestro | September 14, 2008 at 10:47 pm

[…] achievement actually took place a week back on the 9th but it seems the people have quickly forgotten this achievement due to the hovering gloomy political clouds upon us. Let us all take a step back and lend this […]
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7. SHAH | September 16, 2008 at 2:23 am

So proud to hear finally a good news for Pakistan.It assures me it is the individual efforts of people which will help us move forward untill we put such efforts collectively,at least we MUST APPRECIATE THIS YOUNG MAN COLLECTIVELY.
Dear Mr.Haider
Extremely proud of you ,all your efforts ,dedication and hard work proves where there is a will,there is a way.
Best of luck for all future endeavours.
I watched the whole olympics ,it seems I missed the only few where Haider was participating.
Good to see you with a medal.Thank you for posting the News.
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8. Arsalaan Haleem | September 17, 2008 at 9:38 pm

Jehan Ara, touched by your post, I wrote a letter to the editor, Dawn. It was published in today’s (17/9) paper.

http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/17/letted.htm#8
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9. Jehan | September 17, 2008 at 9:43 pm

Thanks Arsalaan. Keep spreading the word.
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10. Hammad ul Haq | September 21, 2008 at 3:11 pm

I have posted an article about Haider Ali at vajood.com.
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11. Why aren’t we making a fuss over Haider Ali? « | September 21, 2008 at 4:37 pm

[…] Why aren’t we making a fuss over Haider Ali? Filed under: General, News — lookdj @ 11:36 am Tags: Beijing Olympics, Haider Ali Paralympian, Pakistani Silver Medalist Paralympic Games […]
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12. abdulbasitsaeed | September 24, 2008 at 7:58 am

It indeed makes me feel proud to learn of Haider Ali’s victory. I must agree with you…it is such a shame that our media agencies failed to publicize and that our government failed to encourage this young Pakistani athlete.
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13. Another unsung hero of Pakistan? | September 24, 2008 at 8:10 am

[…] unsung hero of Pakistan? Posted by Saeed on Sep.24, 2008 Local News, Pakistan, Sports Originally posted by Jehan […]
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14. Fariha Akhtar | September 27, 2008 at 11:40 pm

I have created a wiki entry for Haider Ali here. Please make updates to it if you know more about Haider Ali and his achievements. Haven’t yet added any image because of copyright issues.
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15. FarQuest :: Haider Ali makes us proud! :: September :: 2008 | September 27, 2008 at 11:52 pm

[…] In the Line of Fire […]
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16. Another unsung hero of Pakistan? | Tea Break | October 13, 2008 at 3:16 pm

[…] Originally posted by Jehan Ara […]
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