Bird of Asia: The Magnificent Life and Achievements of Subedar Abdul Khaliq
Subedar Abdul Khaliq, popularly known as the “Bird of Asia”, was a great athlete of Pakistan who made the country famous in the 1950s and 1960s. He was a former Subedar of the Pakistan Army and was known worldwide for his lightning speed in the field of sprinting. Sadly, today’s generation is less aware of his feats, and he is neither mentioned in school textbooks nor in television programs. Let’s take a detailed look at his life and achievements
Abdul Khaliq was born on 23 March 1933 in Jund, Chakol district. As a child, he was interested in the game of Kabaddi, but his speed during a Kabaddi match caught the attention of Brigadier Rodham, the head of the Pakistan Army Sports Control Board. As a result, he was recruited into the Army's Boys Company. He served in the Pakistan Army from 1948 to 1978 and also participated in the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971. Abdul Khaliq represented Pakistan in the 100 metres, 200 metres, 4x100 metres relay, and other sprint events. After retirement, he coached at the Army (1965–1967, 1970–1971), Punjab (1974–1975) and national levels (1974–1978). He was awarded the Pride of Performance Award by Pakistan in 1958.