(1933-1988)
Abdul Khaliq, also known as ‘The flying bird of Asia’, was a Pakistan sprinter who won 100 gold medals in the national games, 26 gold medals and 23 silver medals in international games. He competed in 100m, 200m and 4×100 metres relay races. He participated in 1956 Melbourne Olympics and 1960 Rome Olympics and also in 1954 Asian Games and 1958 Asian Games. He was among the top seven athletes of the time. During 1954 Asian Games, Khaliq set a new record of 10.6 seconds in a 100 meters race by beating the previous record of 10.8 seconds held by Lavy Pinto of India.
Born in 1933 in Chakwal, a small North Punjab town, Khaliq was fascinated by kabaddi, the traditional sport of rural Punjab. He was a man of medium height but had very strong thighs. His forte was speed and it was extremely difficult to catch him in the kabaddi circle. During those days, Brig Rodham, an Englishman, headed the Army Sports Board. Athletics was his first love. Rodham was always on the lookout for talented youngsters. He picked Khaliq from Chakwal’s kabaddi fields and recruited him in the army. The young soldier immediately showed aptitude for sprints. Progressing through the various tiers of army meets, he was soon the best in the country. In his first appearance in a major international meet, Khaliq astonished everyone – winning the 100-metre gold at the 1954 Asian Games in a new record time of 10.6 seconds. This achievement earned him the title of the Fastest Man of Asia.
Pakistan’s athletics officials then set their eyes on the 1956 Olympics. In the intervening years, Khaliq gained much needed experience by participating against the world’s top sprinters. He was at his peak in the Olympics’ year. The first Indo-Pakistan athletics meet was held in New Delhi in March 1956. The highlight of the meet was the ‘Sprint Double’ for Khaliq. In 100 metres, he clocked 10.4 seconds, thus equaling the timings of the gold medallist at the 1952 Olympics. His 21.4 seconds in 200 metres was an Asian record. The Indian media reported: “The country witnessed world class sprinting for the first time.”
The Melbourne Olympics were Khaliq’s and indeed Pakistan athletics’ finest hour. Athletics have always been the showpiece discipline at the Olympics; and sprints draw special attention. Khaliq got through the first two rounds of the 100 metres to qualify for the semi-finals where he was narrowly beaten to the 4th place and couldn’t make it to the final. If his show in the shorter sprint got him noticed, Khaliq’s performance in the 200 metres astounded the world. He made to the semi-finals in a sensational manner, winning both the heats in 21.1 seconds, the best time for 200 metre at the 1956 Olympics in the first two rounds. The pundits predicted an Olympic medal for the Pakistani dynamo. But luck deserted Khaliq in the semi-final. He couldn’t repeat the form of the previous rounds and finished 4th in a photo finish. Thus he again narrowly missed the qualification for the final. Had he repeated the timings of the first two rounds, he would have won the semi-final because 21.1 seconds was the best time in those Olympics barring the final.
Only two editions later, in 1964, the number was increased to eight. Had this been in vogue, Khaliq would have run in the finals of both the sprints. He overcame the great disappointment to earn glory in his second appearance at the Asian Games. In 1958, Khaliq retained the 100 metre crown and thus also the title of the fastest man of the continent. By winning the 100 metre at both the 1954 & 1958 Asiads, Khaliq remained the ‘Fastest Man of Asia’ from 1954-1962. Khaliq died on March 10, 1988 in Rawalpindi.