Two Pakistani swimmers allowed to compete in Olympics

Islamabad - Two Pakistani swimmers have been allowed to feature in the upcoming London Olympics.

The official of the Pakistan Swimming Federation ((PSF) told Xinhua Saturday that the world swimming organisation FINA had sent them the confirmation of the two Pakistani swimmers’ inclusion at the London Games.

The FINA selected female Anum Bandey and male Israr Hussain on the basis of their performance in the World Championships in Shanghai last year.

The selection was made against the berths reserved for countries whose athletes failed to qualify for the Olympics scheduled for July 27-Aug 12.

Hussain, who recorded 57.69 seconds in the Shanghai, will compete in the 100-metre freestyle.

Bandey, who set a new national record of five minutes and 37.11 seconds, will participate in the 400m individual medley, Xinhua reported.

Bandey said she would try to improve the record of her predecessor Kiran Khan, who represented Pakistan at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and secured 45th position among 198 swimmers in the competition.

Bandey is the third Pakistani female swimmer to appear at the Olympics after Khan and Rubab Raza.