Pakistan’s renowned weightlifter Nooh Dastgir Butt clinched the gold medal in the Hercules Columns competition at the Pahlavon Mahmud Strongman Games 2024 in Uzbekistan.
Nooh participated in this event for the first time along with athletes from 18 other countries.
His father and coach, Dastgir Butt, was proud of Nooh's achievement, highlighting that his son will try his best to continue making his country proud in future competitions as well.
During the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022, Nooh had won the gold medal in weightlifting for Pakistan.
In 109+kg category, Butt lifted 173kg in snatch, setting a new CWG record. In clean and jerk, Butt lifted 232kg to set another record. Overall, Butt lifted 405kg which was also a CWG record.
In 2018 CWG, Butt bagged bronze medal in 105+kg category. He was accompanied by Talha Talib who also won bronze in 62kg category.
Earlier, Nooh had been unregistered by the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWF) due to some political issues.
A senior official of the PWF said that doors are open for Nooh if he mends his issues with the federation and accepts its constitution.
“Nooh is the most precious athlete and the PWF's doors are open for him if he resolves his issues with the federation and registers himself with it as per rules and regulations,” the official told The News last year.
“Nooh has not talked with us officially on this issue. These are all political things and those people are responsible for this who keep Nooh away from the PWF.
“He is a fine player. Why should we lose a medal by keeping him away? If he shows intent to return we will welcome him with open heart. We have no enmity with him.”