ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s sporting landscape in 2025 was lit up by a series of remarkable achievements across athletics, squash, volleyball, motorsports and boxing, underlining the country’s growing presence on the international stage.
Leading the charge was javelin superstar Arshad Nadeem, who once again proved his class by clinching gold at the Asian Athletics Championships with a massive throw of 86.40 metres, a mark that placed him well above the rest of the field. Despite injury and surgery issues, he made his presence felt at international level with remarkable achievements.
Arshad’s golden year did not stop there as he went on to dominate the Islamic Solidarity Games with an 83.05-metre effort followed by Yasir for silver and later captured another gold at the National Games in Karachi, registering 81.81 metres to complete a hat-trick of top podium finishes.
Pakistan’s squash resurgence was equally impressive. Rising star Noor Zaman defeated Hamza Khan in CAS international squash championship, while Pakistan finished a commendable fifth at the World Junior Squash Championship. The green shirts also stunned arch-rivals India with a 2-1 victory in the Asian Junior Squash Team Championship, adding to the celebrations. Further success followed as Pakistan secured a silver medal in the Asian Doubles Squash Championship, while Nasir and Mah Noor Ali clinched individual titles at the 3rd Chief of Naval Staff All Pakistan Squash Championship.
The volleyball courts echoed with Pakistan’s dominance as the national Under-16 team lifted the Asian Men’s U-16 Volleyball Championship title, defeating powerhouse Iran in a thrilling final. At the Asian Youth Games, Pakistan overcame Indonesia 3-1 in the semi-final before settling for silver after a hard-fought loss to Iran in the final. The momentum continued at the AVC Nations Cup, where Pakistan outclassed Qatar to reach the final, eventually earning silver after a 3-1 defeat to Bahrain.
Away from traditional arenas, Pakistan also shone in motorsports. The four-day 10th Thal Jeep Rally in Layyah proved to be a spectacular success, with 37 national and international racers tackling the treacherous 200-kilometre Thal track. Event organizer Faisal Shadikhel was widely praised for the flawless execution. Veteran champion Nadir Magsi finished second, just four minutes behind the winner, while in the women’s category Salma Marwat stormed to victory by completing the 100-kilometre race in 1 hour and 30 minutes, with Dina Patel securing second place.
Adding another feather to Pakistan’s cap, renowned stuntman Sultan Golden set new world records in 2025 by completing the fastest one-mile reverse drive in just 57 seconds, along with a spectacular reverse-drive jump that drew global attention.
In the ring, the International Boxing Championship in Lahore concluded in grand fashion as Pakistan’s boxing icon Muhammad Waseem successfully defended his title, delighting home fans and reaffirming his elite status.
