Pakistani weightlifter Nooh Dastagir Butt won the first gold medal for Pakistan in the Commonwealth Games 2022 with a record lift of 405kg.
This is the first gold for Pakistan in any category in the ongoing games in Birmingham.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the weightlifter Nooh Dastagir Butt and wrote on Twitter: “Well done, Butt saab”.
Nooh’s win brings Pakistan’s medal count after Shah Hussain Shah ended Pakistan’s medal wait when he won bronze in the men’s -90kg category at the Coventry Stadium.
Pakistanis celebrated the maiden gold on social media by showering praise on the 24-year-old Pakistani athlete who hails from Gujranwala.
Cass rewards announced for athletes
The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has announced a cash reward of Rs5 million for weightlifter Nooh Dastagir Butt and Rs1 million for Judoka Shah Hussain.
With the two latest additions, Pakistan now has 76 medals at the Commonwealth Games since the South Asian country made its debut in 1954. These include 26 gold, 24 silver and 26 bronze medals. Neighbouring India has over 500 medals.