Mohammad Shehzad, a 64-year-old rower from Pakistan, made history at the Asian Indoor Rowing Championship in Pattaya, Thailand, by winning the gold medal in the 60+ singles category. Shehzad outperformed his younger Indian rival, James Joseph, and set a new Asian record with a time of 1:32.30.
The championship, held from May 26 to 31, featured athletes competing on indoor rowing machines, such as the Concept2 ergometer, which simulates the rowing experience in a controlled environment.
Shehzad’s victory was celebrated by his daughter, Mahoor Shahzad, an Olympian who represented Pakistan at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She praised her father’s achievement on X (formerly Twitter).
Pakistan delivered a strong overall performance at the event, securing a total of 14 medals: 10 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze. Other notable contributors included Abdul Jabbar and Tayyab Iftikhar.
Shehzad dedicated his gold medal to the Pakistan Armed Forces and the nation’s martyrs, adding a personal and emotional touch to his historic win.
