Pakistan is celebrating weightlifter Talha Talib for his performance at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and our celebrities are no exception. Many took to social media to celebrate Talib as a national hero whose efforts have made everyone proud, despite him missing out on a medal.
The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 started on July 23 after being postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Participating in the Olympics for the first time was the 21-year-old weightlifter from Gujranwala who placed fifth in the 67kg weightlifting category. He held the gold medal spot until the final round before eventually being bumped down and denied a place on the podium.
Despite a severe lack of support and resources from the state, Talib was able to give a performance that has won him praise from celebrities and athletes across social media.
Mahira Khan
Khan took to Twitter and posted, “You’ve made us all very very proud!” alongside a picture of Talib from the Olympic Games.
You’ve made us all very very proud! #TalhaTalib 🙌🏼🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/nblmscSCsj
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) July 25, 2021
Asim Azhar
Singer-songwriter Azhar highlighted how Talib “stood up and made the whole nation proud”.
Girte hain shahsawar hi maidan-e-jung mai… you stood up & made the whole nation proud. 🇵🇰💪🏽 #TalhaTalib #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/x9Buh9DqRP
— Asim Azhar (@AsimAzharr) July 25, 2021
Yumna Zaidi
The actor took to Twitter to post about how Talib had “won our hearts” with his performance at the Olympics.
#TalhaTalib You won our hearts 🥰 pic.twitter.com/Kym61fFCZD
— Yumna Zaidi (@yumnazaidiactor) July 25, 2021
Fakhr-e-Alam
Singer-songwriter and pilot Alam was also quick to commend Talib for his effort and hard work regardless of the loss. “So close yet so far away,” he posted on Twitter. “Proud of you.”
From the soil rises another #TalhaTalib so close yet so far away…Shabaash Jawan…..proud of you… #PakistanZindabad 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰
— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) July 25, 2021
Muhammad Hafeez
Cricketer Muhammad Hafeez congratulated the fellow athlete on Twitter.
He stated that “people or federations [who do] not support athletes like you — by not providing necessary facilities — should be [held] accountable.”
Ur passion & hard work leads u to be a Achiever. Congratulations #TalhaTalib 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 #Olympics . U made Pakistan 🇵🇰 proud. Ppl or federations not supporting Athletes like u by not providing necessary facilities should be accountable pic.twitter.com/GjxsAmFEJQ
— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) July 25, 2021
According to the Pakistan Olympic Association, Talib won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games, a gold medal at the South Asian Games, and another gold medal at the International Solidarity Weightlifting Championship.
Congratulations to the athlete on his commendable performance at the Olympics and for making Pakistan so proud.
