By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: In a country where sporting icons are traditionally born on cricket grounds, wrestling mats and hockey fields, an extraordinary athlete has quietly charted an entirely different path. For two decades, he has carried Pakistan’s flag into an arena few at home even knew existed, one of the most prestigious and demanding disciplines in the Olympic world, equestrian eventing.
Eventing is a sport that requires impeccable precision, elite training facilities, specialized horses and a deeply developed national system. Pakistan has none of these.
No eventing academies.
No national competitions.
No locally trained horses.
No institutional pipeline.
Yet, despite these overwhelming odds, one Pakistani rider chose to challenge the impossible.
Over twenty years, he has achieved what no one in Pakistan’s equestrian history ever has. He has qualified for the Asian Games four times and, most remarkably, earned Olympic qualification twice—a feat unmatched in the country’s sporting narrative.
But his story is not defined by achievements alone. It is equally shaped by heartbreak, resilience and an unbreakable spirit.
A Fall That Shattered Everything—Except His Will
As he prepared for the Tokyo Olympics, tragedy struck during a routine training session. A devastating accident claimed the life of his trusted equine partner, Kasheer, and left the rider himself with critical, life-threatening injuries.
Doctors doubted he would walk again, let alone compete. Basic functions such as standing, speaking and moving had to be relearned from scratch. His daily struggle became one not for medals but for survival.
For most athletes, this would have been the end.
But for him it marked the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter. Where others saw a career-ending tragedy, he found renewed purpose. Where many expected retirement, he envisioned a comeback. Where most would have let the dream fade, he ignited it with greater force.
A Return That Redefined Possibility
Defying every prediction, he returned to the sport stronger, sharper, and more determined than ever. He once again secured qualification for the Asian Games and against all odds, earned a place at the Paris Olympics, becoming the only Pakistani to maintain such consistent performance on the global equestrian stage.
His comeback is more than a personal triumph.
It is a landmark moment for Pakistan. A living testament to perseverance, fortitude and national pride.
Pakistan’s Lone Standard-Bearer in International Eventing
Today, he stands as Pakistan’s only internationally recognized eventing rider, the first and only Pakistani to qualify for the Olympics twice in this discipline. A solitary torchbearer for a sport Pakistan has yet to formally embrace. For twenty years, he has carried the burden and the dream alone with dignity, humility and unmatched resolve.
Now, as he prepares to write the next chapter in Pakistan’s sporting history, he faces a challenge that is not athletic but systemic:
Pakistan must support the very athlete who has carried its name across continents. To compete at the Asian Games and continue representing Pakistan on the world stage he urgently needs sponsorship and institutional backing. This is no longer just his journey. It is Pakistan’s opportunity.
A Call to the Nation
This moment is bigger than one athlete. It is an opening for Pakistan to step onto a global sporting platform where it has never been represented. It is the chance to build an equestrian future for the next generation and to honour the remarkable perseverance of a man who refused to let the dream die.
He has given Pakistan two Olympic qualifications, four Asian Games qualifications and 20 years of uncompromising dedication, a comeback story that defies the very limits of human resilience.
Now, it is time for Pakistan to give back to stand behind the rider who has stood alone for so long. Because while many flags are carried by teams, some are carried by a single rider who simply refuses to let the dream fall.
