Sports in Pakistan

Haha , yeahh, most likely only criquet prevail . But happily Ive seen more and more disciplines taking the spot . Like swimming , weight lifting and tenis.

At least in my city is a very little city with limited outdoors activities for children . And costly for the average pakistani family income.

welcome to the land where politics is the national sport, and internal issues are the hurdles we jump over every day! Who needs cricket, football, basketball etc  when you've got the adrenaline rush of parliamentary debates and the thrill of power struggles 

Hello everyone,

The Olympic Games are now just a few days away and we would like to talk about sports.

What sports are the most popular and/or unusual in Pakistan?

Are sports facilities easily accessible there? Where and how can one find sports clubs in the region?

Are there sports events regularly held in the country?

And you? What is your favourite sport? Which one(s) do you practice in Pakistan?

Thank you in advance,

Priscilla - @Priscilla

Ah, the sporting life in Pakistan—a delightful mix of passion, tradition, and a few surprises that might just make you raise an eyebrow. Let's embark on this athletic journey together, shall we?

Popular Sports in Pakistan

Cricket: Once the undisputed monarch of Pakistani sports, cricket had the nation hooked like a gripping drama series—full of unexpected plot twists and last-minute thrillers. I was a diehard fan myself, playing endlessly in my younger days. But alas, as with many good things in Pakistan, politics crept in, and what was once a pride-inducing spectacle has now become a source of frustration. Over the past couple of decades, and particularly in the last three years, the sport has crumbled under the weight of mismanagement, questionable selections, and, of course, embarrassing defeats to arch-rivals. The magic is gone, and so is my enthusiasm—I no longer watch cricket. My interests have now shifted to golf. At least in golf, if I lose, I can blame my own swing instead of the selection committee.

Field Hockey: The official national sport of Pakistan, and at one point, the nation’s most dominant global presence. Multiple Olympic and World Cup wins once made Pakistan the Brazil of hockey. Unfortunately, much like my cricket enthusiasm, hockey’s glory days are long behind us.

Football (Soccer): It lingers in the background, growing steadily among the youth. The English Premier League has a massive following, and you’d be surprised by the number of passionate Liverpool, Manchester United, and Real Madrid fans you’ll find here. Pakistan’s own national team? Well… let’s just say they could use a little encouragement (and funding).

Squash: If you’ve ever heard the names Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan, then you know that Pakistan once absolutely owned the sport of squash. From the 1950s to the 1990s, these legends dominated the courts, making Pakistan a force to be reckoned with. These days? The only squash most people play is the one they eat.

Unusual Sports

Kabaddi: Imagine tag, wrestling, and endurance training all rolled into one. That’s kabaddi. It’s intense, loud, and requires players to hold their breath while tackling opponents. Not your typical leisurely evening sport, but a sight to behold.

Tent Pegging: This is the medieval version of archery on horseback—except you’re galloping at full speed and stabbing wooden targets with a lance. Think of it as jousting but without the whole "knocking someone off a horse" part.

Donkey Cart Racing: Karachi’s take on Formula 1—except instead of Ferraris, you have donkeys, and instead of a pit crew, you have a guy yelling, "Chal, beta, chal!" Surprisingly competitive, and probably the only race where the vehicle has a mind of its own.

Sports Accessibility in Pakistan

Urban Areas: Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad boast decent facilities—cricket grounds, golf courses, squash courts, and even a few swimming pools (which mostly exist for show rather than use). Want to join a sports club? Just be ready for the bureaucracy and membership fees.

Rural Areas: Here, you don’t need fancy stadiums—just an open field, a ball (or anything remotely spherical), and the willingness to improvise.

Finding Sports Clubs

The best way? Word of mouth. Just ask around, and you’ll find everything from cricket leagues to golf societies. Many social clubs offer facilities, but again, accessibility depends on your budget and patience with Pakistan’s efficient management (read: none).

Regular Sports Events

Cricket Matches: Despite its downfall, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) still draws crowds. International matches, when hosted, turn into nationwide festivals—where the streets are empty, and the collective blood pressure of the nation skyrockets.

Polo Festivals: The Gilgit-Baltistan region hosts some of the most insane polo tournaments you’ll ever see. No helmets, no rules—just raw horse-riding skill and fearless athletes.

Marathons & Races: Occasionally held in major cities, though participation is more for fun than fierce competition. If you're looking for actual races, best to head towards donkey cart events.

And You?

As for me, cricket’s heartbreak pushed me toward golf. Now, I enjoy the peace, the precision, and the fact that if I lose, I can only blame myself (or the wind… or the caddy… or my clubs). It’s a change from the high-energy sports, but at least it’s drama-free.

Pakistan’s sporting landscape is as diverse as its culture—whether you want to swing a bat, ride a horse, or just race a donkey, there’s something for everyone. Now, enough about me—what’s your sport of choice?

Hello everyone,

The Olympic Games are now just a few days away and we would like to talk about sports.

What sports are the most popular and/or unusual in Pakistan?

Are sports facilities easily accessible there? Where and how can one find sports clubs in the region?

Are there sports events regularly held in the country?

And you? What is your favourite sport? Which one(s) do you practice in Pakistan?

Thank you in advance,

Priscilla - @Priscilla

And after nine long years, here I am, finally responding to your question! LOL. Any later, and I would’ve had to send my reply via Ouija board from the graveyard—"Knock once for yes, twice for no!" Hahaha! But hey, better late than never, right? Now, let’s talk about Pakistan and the Olympics, a tale of passion, perseverance, and, let’s be honest, a bit of perplexity.

Pakistan at the Olympics: A Rollercoaster Ride (Minus the Medals)

2016 Rio Olympics: The "Exclusive" Club

Pakistan kept things cozy in 2016, sending just seven athletes across four sports: swimming, shooting, athletics, and judo. Yup, seven—barely enough to form a cricket team, let alone a sporting delegation.

Swimming: Haris Bandey and Lianna Swan made waves—okay, ripples—in their freestyle events. No medals, but hey, at least they didn’t drown.

Shooting: Ghulam Mustafa Bashir took aim in the 25m rapid-fire pistol event. He didn’t win, but let’s just say the effort was “on target.”

Athletics: A lone Pakistani sprinter ran his heart out. Unfortunately, physics had other plans.

Judo: Shah Hussain Shah fought valiantly, but his Olympic dreams were put in a chokehold.

Medal count? Zero. Moving on.

2020 Tokyo Olympics: Double the Athletes, Double the Fun

By 2021 (thanks, COVID), Pakistan decided to go big—sending a whopping ten athletes. Progress!

Javelin Throw: Arshad Nadeem became the nation’s hero, finishing 5th. For a brief moment, Pakistanis Googled “What is Javelin?”

Weightlifting: Talha Talib lifted so much that he almost carried Pakistan’s medal drought on his back—he finished 5th!

Badminton: Mahoor Shahzad played, swung, and smashed, but the only thing she netted was experience.

Shooting: Gulfam Joseph nearly hit bullseye, finishing 9th in the 10m air pistol. So close, yet so… sigh.

Swimming: Haseeb Tariq & Bisma Khan dived in, made a splash, but sadly, didn’t make waves in the finals.

Judo: Shah Hussain Shah returned, fought hard, but the podium remained a dream.

Medal count? Still zero. But at least we got close this time!

Pakistan’s Olympic "Hiatus"

Fun fact: Pakistan’s last Olympic medal (of any kind) was in 1992. Yes, before Wi-Fi, YouTube, and PSL. Since then, we’ve been on an extended vacation from the podium. But hey, who needs medals when you have cricket, right?

Oh, wait… about that…

Why I Stopped Watching Cricket and Took Up Golf Instead

I was a diehard cricket fan. Played a ton of it growing up, watched every match like my life depended on it. But over the past few years, especially the last three, cricket has been more painful than a heartbreak. The politicization of the sport has turned a once-glorious game into an endless cycle of embarrassing defeats to arch-rivals.

So, I decided to switch sports—to golf! Because guess what? In golf, you lose to yourself—and that’s far less painful than losing to India every time.

Final Thoughts

Pakistan may not be a medal-winning powerhouse (yet), but we have passion, hope, and a lot of room for improvement. Maybe in the next Olympics, we’ll finally break the drought… or at least increase our athlete count to 15!

Until then, let’s cheer for our athletes, pray for miracles, and if all else fails—pick up a golf club. 😆

And finally ....... A Small but Mighty Team

Pakistan, never one to overcrowd the Olympic Village, sent a select group of seven athletes to compete in three sports at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Clearly, we believe in quality over quantity—or perhaps we're just really good at carpooling.

Arshad Nadeem: The Lone Gladiator

Enter Arshad Nadeem, our javelin maestro, who decided that 32 years without an Olympic medal was quite enough, thank you very much. With a herculean throw of 92.97 meters, not only did he clinch gold, but he also shattered a 16-year-old Olympic record. Somewhere, Zeus is nodding in approval.