New Delhi: Pakistani swimmer Jehanara Nabi’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics was applauded by many, including celebrities like Ali Zafar. But for many Pakistanis, what she wore was more important.
The 20-year-old, a wild card entrant, did not manage to win any medal at the Olympics. However, her performance was greatly appreciated.
“She might not have won a medal, but she has broken many barriers in Pakistan’s conservative society for women participating in such sports,” journalist Owais Tohid wrote on X.
Some Pakistani men, though, were more concerned about ‘what she wore’.
They could not understand why ‘wearing less clothes’ was a cause of celebration. One X user schooled Nabi for her choice of costume, citing the example of Arabian swimmers who wear “swimsuits that represent their culture”.
Another X user wrote: “Women participation in every field is like a backbone of our society but wearing little clothes is a strong humiliation and not accepted as being a Muslim. Women participation is must but can be in proper manner with proper dressing.”
Another asked: “Would you allow your daughter, wife, or mother to compete in this dress?”
Jehanara’s Olympic debut
Nabi was competing in the 200 m freestyle event and recorded a time of 2:10.69, placing third in her heat and 26th overall, according to The Express Tribune. This was over two seconds slower than her personal best and national record of 2:08.57, which she set at the Thailand Age Group Swimming Championships in April. Even then, Nabi finished ahead of competitors from Albania, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal with splits of 29.80, 32.49, 33.80, and 34.60.
Her journey as a professional swimmer started at the age of 12 when she represented Pakistan internationally. Leaving her family at a young age, she moved to Thailand to train at the age of 15.
Nabi, fellow swimmer Ahmed Durrani, and sprinter Faiqa Riaz are representing Pakistan as wild card entrants. Wild card entries are granted to countries whose athletes do not qualify through regular events, Dawn reported.
Nabi, in an interview with Aaj TV before the Olympics, had added that criticism “was part of her life” as a female athlete in Pakistan. She chooses to focus on the people who do cheer her on, and the support that she gets from her family.
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Pakistan’s Olympic contingent
Seven of Pakistan’s top athletes are representing the country at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Among them are javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, and shooters Ghulam Mustafa Bashir, Gulfam Joseph and Kishmala Talat, all of whom qualified for their events.
Faiqa Riaz, Mohammad Ahmed Durrani and Jehanara Nabi were participating as wild card entries.
Nadeem and Nabi were also the flag bearers for Pakistan at the opening ceremony.
Nabi has competed at three world championships (2022, 2023, 2024) and represented Pakistan at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (GBR). Representing Pakistan at the Olympics has been “her biggest dream”.
The athlete’s path to the Paris Olympics was significantly enhanced by the World Aquatics scholarship, which allowed her to train at Thanyapura, Thailand’s premier training centre for elite swimmers, Dawn reported.