BIRMINGHAM: Winning by the same margin and against opponents from the same nation in both the ring and on the court. For Pakistan, the Commonwealth Games opening day of competition was not particularly exciting. The mixed badminton team from Pakistan was defeated by their arch-rivals on Friday, and boxer Suleman Baloch from India was no match for him.
The gymnast Mohammad Afzal experienced the same fate as Pakistan’s four swimmers, who were both unable to advance from their heats to the semifinals. Nasir Iqbal’s 3-0 victory over Jamaica’s James Morrison in the round of 64 of the men’s singles squash competition was the lone positive result for Pakistan. Iqbal defeated Tayyab Aslam in a matchup that was decided by scores of 11-5, 11-4, and 11-3. With this victory, Pakistan has assured a place in the round of 16.
The round of 16 of the light welterweight (63.5kg) division was reached earlier at the National Exhibition Centre when Thapa defeated Suleman 5-0 while barely breaking a sweat. Suleman started out energetically, taking full use of his height, but the quick-footed Thapa, a five-time medalist at the Asian Championship, was at his calculated best.
