By Khurram Shahzad
ISLAMABAD, Dec 13 (APP):
Pakistan’s rising swimming sensation Hamza Asif has cemented his status as the country’s fastest swimmer after a record-breaking performance at the 35th National Games in Karachi, reigniting hopes of Pakistan’s qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and reviving the nation’s long-quiet Olympic ambitions in swimming.
The 19-year-old swimmer, who began his journey as a young trainee at Faisalabad’s Chenab Club, claimed three gold medals, one silver, and set a new national record in the 50-metre breaststroke. His achievements have drawn comparisons with Pakistan’s former Olympic swimmer Iftikhar Ahmed Shah, who represented the country at the 1948 London Olympics—exactly 80 years before the LA Games that Hamza now targets.
Hamza’s journey began away from Pakistan’s traditional competitive swimming hubs. With no 50-metre training pool available in Faisalabad, his grandparents regularly drove him to early-morning practice sessions, while his mother closely supervised his initial training. His foundational coaching was provided by Imran Nazir at Chenab Club, where his early talent was first identified.
At this year’s National Games, Hamza delivered one of the most dominant performances in recent swimming history. He won gold in the 100m freestyle, gold in the 50m freestyle with a time of 23.65 seconds, gold in the 50m breaststroke, and silver in the 50m butterfly. His 29.99-second finish in the 50m breaststroke made him the first Pakistani swimmer to break the 30-second barrier in the event.
Behind his rapid rise lies structured institutional support led by ACTIVIT, a Lahore-based sports science and performance organisation headed by Rd. Rizwan Aftab Ahmed, CEO of ACTIVIT and Director of National Hospital Lahore. Rd. Rizwan, the maternal grandson of Olympic swimmer Iftikhar Ahmed Shah, has taken a keen personal interest in Hamza’s development, with all three carrying forward the athletic legacy of Aitchison College Lahore.
Under ACTIVIT’s programme, Hamza receives advanced diagnostics, sports-specific medical supervision, nutritional planning, supplementation, strength and conditioning protocols, and continuous performance tracking. Rd. Rizwan has personally overseen Hamza’s metabolic assessment and diet management, positioning ACTIVIT not merely as a sponsor but as a long-term performance partner.
Additional support has come from the BARD Foundation, which identified Hamza at an early stage and financed his international training. This assistance enabled him to attend high-performance swimming camps in Thailand, which Hamza credits with refining his technique and enhancing his competitive maturity.
This international exposure paved the way for his recruitment to the University of Tennessee Southern (UTS) in the United States, where he currently trains with the UTS FireHawks programme. Competing in the US collegiate circuit has given him regular access to Olympic-standard facilities, elite coaching, and exposure to international-level competition.
Hamza’s career trajectory has attracted attention due to its resemblance to that of Olympian Iftikhar Ahmed Shah, who represented Pakistan in 1948 after training at Aitchison College. With ACTIVIT’s involvement, the link between Pakistan’s past Olympic participation and its next credible swimming prospect has become increasingly evident.
Speaking after his National Games success, Hamza said his focus remains firmly on the Olympic cycle. “My target is LA 2028. Every competition from here is part of that preparation,” he said. His father, acknowledging the rising expectations, remarked, “We work hard and leave the rest to Allah.”
It is hoped that Hamza Asif will continue his upward trajectory and fulfil his dream of representing Pakistan at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Follow the PNI Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
