Pakistan’s Inam Butt returns home after winning gold at World Beach Games

• Butt won gold in 90kg category after a thrilling win over Georgia’s Marsagishvili in the finals.
• The wrestler urges Pakistan's sporting authorities to pay attention to wrestling.

Pakistani wrestler Inam Butt returned to country, receiving a hero's welcome after the athlete grabbed gold medal at the 2019 World Beach Games being held in Doha, Qatar.

“Thanks to the prayers of my fans I have been able to win this medal for Pakistan,” said Butt, while talking to media on his return to Pakistan. “This medal has a special significance because it was won at the World Beach Games, in which top athletes from around the world participate. I am really happy to win this medal, which is the first in Pakistan history at the tournament,” he said.

Butt won gold at World Beach Games wrestling 90kg category after a thrilling win over Georgia’s Marsagishvili in the finals. He beat wrestlers from Turkey and Portugal in his earlier encounters before beating Spain’s Garcia Perez 3-0 in the semifinals.

As earlier promised, Inam dedicated his victory to his Kashmiri brethren. “I would like to dedicate my gold medal to the Kashmiri people, who are suffering at the hands of Indian armed forces,” he said.

The wrestler urged the country’s sporting authorities to pay attention to wrestling saying that Pakistan can win medals at Olympics as well if proper attention is given.

Butt grabbed the only gold medal for Pakistan in Commonwealth Games 2018 held in April last year, after he completely outclassed his opponent Melvin Bibo of Nigeria in the final of 86kg weight category. He has previously won the gold at Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010.

The 2019 World Beach Games, officially known as the ANOC World Beach Games Qatar 2019, is being held in Doha, Qatar. Some 1,240 athletes from 97 nations would be participating in the event in various sports including basketball, football, karate and wrestling.