By Menin Rodrigues

TORONTO: August 15, 2023 – In the realm of athletics, Pakistan in its fledgling years
witnessed the emergence of extraordinary talents from various communities,
contributing significantly to the nation’s sporting legacy. Among these remarkable
athletes, the Christian Catholic community of Karachi played a pivotal role in shaping
Pakistan’s sprinting prowess, in both the men and women categories.

Though there have been several Christian athletes in various sports and disciplines, this
article is focused on track & field sprinters only. Among men, Paul Alphonso, John
Permal, Xavier D’Costa at the national level; and Carmen D’Souza, Leslie Vaz, Hubert
Reynolds, Valentine Gonsalves, Terence Andrade, Anselm Joseph, Rui Britto, William
Monteiro, Menin Rodrigues, Stafford D’Souza, Peter D’Cunha, and Jeffery U’Chong
excelled at the provincial, university and board levels. Among the women, were
Henrietta Braganza, Sophie Fernandes, Maria Lawrence, Dolores Almeida, Rosie
D’Lima, Sylvia D’Mello, Rosemary Pinto, Bernadette Pinto, Cheryl Lucas, and Tania
Fernandes, all at the national, provincial, university and board levels.

With their remarkable natural ability, speed, agility, and unwavering determination, these
Christian-Catholic sprinters from Karachi dominated the 100 and 200-meters events for
several years while in their competing prime. This writeup aims to shed light on the
talents and achievements of some of these exceptional individuals, highlighting their
contributions to Pakistan’s athletic history, and is being recorded for posterity in
recognition of their extraordinary aptitudes.

Athletes hailing from Karachi’s Christian Catholic background, have been predominantly
in the forefront of producing some of Pakistan’s finest athletes. Their natural athletic
abilities, coupled with disciplined training, enabled them to excel in track & field events
and in particular, the sprints. They did not get any specialized coaching; their training
grounds were the schools they attended where sports were at par with academic
excellence, and the uneven cinder tracks of the YMCA and Railway grounds.
Throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, these runners showcased their speed
consistently by participating in the Sindh and National Games and some going on to
representing Pakistan at the international competitions.

The core value of their chosen event, the sprints, was determined by their natural talent
to be faster (Citius in Latin) encompassing the first of the three citations of the Olympic
motto of Citius (Faster), Altius (Higher), Fortius (Stronger).

One of the most notable figures among the Christian sprinters of Pakistan was the late
John Permal, who held the title of the ‘fastest man in Pakistan’ for nearly a decade, from
1964 to 1974. Permal’s exceptional speed, explosive starts, and a flawless natural
technique made him a force to be reckoned with on the tracks, not just in Pakistan but in
Asia and Europe. He achieved remarkable feats in national and international
competitions.

Two other supremos to have participated abroad were Paul Alfonso and Delores
Almeida; and Paul in particular, was the dark horse who upset many a fearsome eight.
As a mesmerising schoolboy sprinter, his performances at the University and Board
levels earned him scholarships to further his education.

While Permal’s superiority earned him the distinction to compete at prestigious events
such as the Asian, Commonwealth and Olympic games; runners like Paul Alfonso,
Xavier D’Costa, among men, and Dolores Almeida, Rosie D’Lima, Sylvia D’Mello and
Cheryl Lucas were the fastest women athletes of Pakistan. All of them were gifted
sprinters with a natural ability to speed away with sprint titles wherever they competed.
They left an indelible mark on the nation’s athletic history and their achievements
extended beyond national competitions.

The success of Christian athletes, in any sport, has had a lasting impact on the
community itself, as well as on the wider Pakistani sporting fraternity. Their
achievements served as an inspiration for future generations of athletes, transcending
religious and cultural boundaries. They exemplified the values of discipline,
perseverance, and hard work, serving as role models for aspiring sportspersons across
the nation. Furthermore, their accomplishments contributed to the promotion of
inclusivity and diversity in the rank and file of Pakistani athletes.

Unfortunately, both track & field competitions in Pakistan and athletes from the Christian
community, have diminished over the years and not much can be written on what’s on
our plates in the current circumstances. If talent is sourced at grassroots level, nurtured
under professional coaching, given opportunities to compete in international meets and
suitably recognized, there is no reason why we cannot produce top-class sprinters like
Abdul Khaliq and John Permal – both among the fastest in Asia!

Lest we forget, let us remember these fine Christian athletes who won laurels for
Pakistan to prove that talent and skill knew no religious or ethnic boundaries. It was
their enthusiasm and response to the call of duty that made them stand out among the
best of the rest. Without any inhibition, and with merit personified, they simply breezed
through the wind in fierce competition, clinched glorious victories, alighted the podiums
to claim their gold, silver and/or bronze medals, and proudly flew the Pakistan flag,
epitomizing the proverbial Olympic oath:

“We swear that we shall take part in the games, in loyal competition, respecting the
regulations that govern them, and are desirous of participating in them in the true spirit
of sportsmanship (sportswoman ship) for the honour of our
country/city/school/community, and for the greater glory of sport.”

© Menin Rodrigues 2023