KARACHI: “We have prepared for this event for a year, all the blood, sweat, and tears just to get to this championship,” tells the three-time Asian Powerlifting Champion Twinkle Sohail on her way to South Africa with her medal-winning sisters Sybil Sohail and Veronika Sohail.

The terrific trio will be representing Pakistan at the Asian-African-Pacific Combined Classic and Equipped Powerlifting Championship in South Africa which began on July 5 and will go on till July 13. The sisters left for Potchefstroom City in search of more medals this year, both Sybil and Veronika had been making waves earlier this year and there is more to come. “This is such an important event for us, it is almost like a mini world championship with powerlifters coming from three continents, in fact only just Europeans and Americans aren’t present, there will be 20-25 countries competing here,” Twinkle told this Correspondent and she was en route to South Africa. “It is a huge event that will feature almost 200 participants here. “The goal for the three of us is to make Pakistan proud,” Twinkle tells this correspondent. “Veronika will fight in the 57 kg junior event, on July 10, Sybil will compete in the 52 kg open category, while I will be representing the country in the 84 kg event on July 11.” The sisters train in Lahore each day without fail, come heaven or hell, and their record of numerous international medals shows their dedication. However, that is not enough and Twinkle has a request to make. In a country that is obsessed with cricket and where patriarchal values still reign supreme the Sohail sisters represent the best Pakistan could offer. They are showing their mettle not just on the field but off the field too with their parents’ unflinching support to advocate and practically fight for their daughters to pursue careers in a field often associated with men and mostly women are hindered by the traditional and cultural taboos. .

“I just want to ask the Pakistanis to please support us, if we can train this hard and do everything we can to make the country proud in this field. I want Pakistan to support us now and in the future too, support us fully and open-heartedly. We want to win so many more international accolades for Pakistan and serve the country in the best way possible.” Twinkle further added that the sisters are excited, optimistic, and even emotional that they are getting this opportunity to compete for Pakistan at the mega event. “We are very hopeful that we’ll win medals for Pakistan,” said Twinkle as all three of them have already conquered the Asian turf in their categories. They are now setting their eyes on bigger events. “We are capable of winning. Each time we prepared well, Allah rewarded us with respect and won with medals. “Even though we are travelling right now, through Kenya Airways, we are getting ready for the event, we can’t wait to train there, we are thinking about it even as we are getting on the plane. We want to land and get on with the mission.” Sohail sisters reached their destination on Monday. Pak women’s team will compete in Equipped Powerlifting on 13 July. They will return home on 18 July at Lahore Airport after the concluding championships.