Plot announced on winning Olympics medal not found even after 35 years: Boxer Hussain Shah

Boxer Hussain Shah, Pakistan’s first ever international medalist in the individual category, has not received the housing plot promised by the government even 35 years after winning the medal.

Hailing from Malir area of ​​Karachi, Hussain Shah, who has been living in Japan for the past several years, won a bronze medal in the 1988 Olympics in South Korea.

He was the first Pakistani athlete to win any medal in the individual category at the Olympics Games. He managed to win a bronze medal in the sport of boxing.

Boxer Hussain Shah held the record of winning a medal in the individual category for the country before Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who won the gold medal in javelin throw at the ongoing Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Before 1988, no Pakistani athlete had succeeded in winning an individual medal at the Olympic Games.

In an exclusive telephone conversation with Independent Urdu from Japan, Hussain Shah said that after winning the bronze medal in 1988, the then government announced a residential plot for him in Gulistan Johar area of ​​Karachi.

Expressing regret, the Olympian said: ‘Despite the passage of 35 years, I did not get that plot, even though I had deposited Rs 15,000 for the registration of the plot.’

He said: ‘When I went to the concerned office to collect the plot, there was nothing there and I was told that my plot has been encroached upon. I haven’t found that plot yet.’

When asked about the other prizes and gifts announced for him apart from the residential plot, he said, “Pakistan Sports Federation received 25,000 rupees, while another 25,000 rupees was personally donated by a Pakistani citizen. but were given.’

Hussain Shah won a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul (Hussain Shah).

He further said that ‘apart from this, all the announcements that were made have not been received till date.’

Hussain Shah said that he wanted to build his house and boxing club on the plot announced by the government for him, but his dream could not be fulfilled.

The boxing Olympian further said that the Karachi Electric Supply Company had also announced to give him a house as a reward, which was never implemented.

A journey from the sidewalk to the Olympics

Boxer Hussain Shah belonged to a poor family in Lyari, an area famous for boxing in the city of Quaid, due to which he had to work hard at the age of playing.

Hussain Shah said that he started boxing in Lyari and the youth took a lot of interest in the sport.

“I was four years old when my mother passed away, while I started learning and playing boxing at the age of seven,” Hussain Shah told Independent Urdu.

Looking back over the past months and years, the Olympian boxer said that after his mother’s death, his father remarried and his stepmother did not like his boxing.

‘I left home and started spending time in the footpaths and shrines of Lyari. I used to sleep in the streets most nights because I had no home.’

Pakistani boxer Hussain Shah with boxing legend Muhammad Ali Clay (Hussain Shah)

Fortunately, he got a job in the Pakistan Railways in the early 80s and in 1983 got the chance to compete in national level boxing competitions for the first time, defeating a senior boxer.

The then head of the Pakistan Boxing Federation invited Hussain Shah to attend the national camp, after which he participated in the South Asian Olympic Games and won various medals, later winning bronze in the first Olympics in 1988. Won the medal.

After winning a medal in the Olympics, Hussain Shah received the same welcome at Karachi Airport as Arshad Nadeem received at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Airport between Saturday and Sunday.

Hussain Shah, recalling his reception in 1988, said: ‘It seemed that the whole city of Karachi had come to the airport to welcome me and I was brought to Lyari in a procession, while dancing to the beat of drums on the way. were also done.

Hussain Shah said that ‘I am proud that I have won the bronze medal for Pakistan, but at that time the government was very disappointing.’

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Transfer to Japan

He said that some time after the Olympic Games, his conditions became so bad that even two meals a day was not available.

“I was helped by Jahangir Khan, the squash champion at that time, which led to me going to London in 1992 to train in boxing for two years.

“Even after returning from training, there was no change in the situation, while there was no support from the government.

‘I had to come to Japan on a visit visa. I was forced to flee to Japan because I had no other choice.’

Upon arriving in Japan, he trained at a boxing academy and upon completion of training, the academy offered him a job as a boxing coach, which Hussain Shah accepted.

Boxer Hussain Shah after winning the match (Hussain Shah)

Referring to his life in Japan, Hussain Shah said that he is happy there with his family and is earning well.

He said that earlier I was a coach in a boxing club and now in a boxing and gym club. In response to a question, he said: ‘I have no intention of going to Pakistan now, because I have seen very difficult conditions there. ‘

Message for Arshad Nadeem

Referring to Arshad Nadeem’s win, Hussain Shah said, “It is a matter of pride and we are also proud to say that our country’s athlete has won a medal, but please convey my message to Arshad Nadeem.”

“I was welcomed, announcements were made for me, but the result was that I had to flee Pakistan.”

He said: ‘Arshad Nadeem should get all the announcements made as soon as possible because then the announcers forget.’