Pakistan female athlete inputs spirit to Olympics
Pakistan's female athlete Sadaf Siddiqu aims not high at the Olympics and says simply competing will be a dream come true as she hopes to inspire millions of girls back home.
Lahore-based Siddiqui runs the 100 and 200 metres but as a wild card entrant she is allowed to compete in only one event and so will be lining up for the 100m heats in Beijing.
The 22-year-old sprinter knows she faces red-hot competition from a star-studded line-up but promises to keep her head high and proud, even if she finishes last.
"I promise that I will not show an embarrassed loser's face, my head will be high and my face would be glowing because the Olympic spirit is to compete irrespective of results. For me it's an honour," the sprinter said .
Siddiqui is one of just two female competitors in Pakistan's 37-member contingent for the Games, with 18-year-old Kiran Khan set to jump in the Olympic pool in the women's swimming.
Pakistan is sending 21 athletes in total and 16 officials, according to the Pakistan Olympic Association.
Siddiqui's best time for the 100m is 11.81 seconds, a Pakistani record she set in April, and 24.36 seconds in the 200m which are both a far cry from top international standards.
巴基斯坦女运动员萨达夫•西迪基对自己在北京奥运会上的成绩没有抱太高期望,她说能参加奥运就是梦想成真,因为她希望自己回去后能激励国内许许多多有梦想的女孩。
来自拉合尔的西迪基是女子100米和200米短跑运动员,但作为一名“外卡”选手,她只能参加一个项目。在本届奥运会上,西迪基将参加100米短跑项目比赛。
这名22岁的短跑小将知道自己将与世界级选手展开激烈的竞争,但她说即使跑最后一名她也会高昂着头,并会为此感到自豪。
她说:“我保证不会让大家看到一张沮丧的失败者的脸,我会高昂着头,神采飞扬,因为奥林匹克精神倡导的就是不计结果的竞争。对于我来说,这就是一种荣誉。”
西迪基是巴基斯坦派出的37人代表团中仅有的两名女运动员之一,另一位是18岁游泳小将卡兰•汗。
据巴基斯坦奥委会介绍,巴基斯坦派出的奥运体育代表团包括21名选手和16名官员。
西迪基100米短跑的最好成绩是11.81秒,这也是她于今年四月创下的巴基斯坦全国新记录,她200米短跑的最好成绩是24.36秒,两个项目的成绩都远不及世界顶级水平。