Talha Talib, a renowned Pakistani weightlifter, was born on October 3, 1999 in Gujranwala. He has represented Pakistan and won numerous titles for the country. One of his most iconic achievements is that he represented Pakistan in weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. It saw Pakistan at the Olympics after 46 years. Talha Talib took inspiration from his father and decided to become a weightlifter.
Interesting fact about Talha Talib:
The most interesting thing about Talha is that he’s a huge die-hard fan of the renowned late Indian singer Sidhu Moosewala. Talha loves listening to his songs while training at the gym, as, according to Talha, Sidhu’s lyrics are motivational and motivate him to work hard. Talha is not only an amazing athlete but also a very humble and down-to-earth person.
We learned some interesting things about Talha Talib’s life journey during his interview with the Green Team.
Q: Who inspired you to start weightlifting?
My father, Islam Natiq was a weightlifter and won Bronze in powerlifting in 1999. He trained me at the age of 8, and I started weightlifting. At the age of 11, I was the under-14 national champion.
Q: How do you train, and who supports you the most?
I work hard day and night. I train at 3 AM and 6 PM, 4 hours workout. My family supports me a lot. They back me every time, no matter what.
Q: How do you stay focused before a lift?
I’m a professional athlete; I do everything with focus. Before a lift, I mute everything around me and just think about how to lift this weight.
Q: What’s your favourite lift?
It was a 150kg snatch from the Olympics. Because it was my personal best, and that lift ranked me 2nd in the world. Snatch is also my favorite event.
Q: How do you make things easier for yourself while being injured?
I’m injured right now, I have back injury, knee pain, shoulder pain, leg pain – but I don’t think about them. When I’m at the gym, I have to do my training, no matter how much pain I have or how I’m feeling. I just ignore it and do my stuff.
Q: How did you feel while representing Pakistan in the Olympics?
It was like a dream come true. I’m very blessed that Allah allowed me to represent my country at the international level. I was the one who represented Pakistan in the Olympics after 46 years, and I gave a good performance.
Also see: 75 years of Glorifying the Sports History of Pakistan
Q: Any advice for young weightlifters?
Just focus on your goals and work hard. Eat well, sleep well, and train hard.
Q: What are your future goals?
I have only one goal: the Olympics 2028 gold medal, Insha’Allah.
A huge round of applause and thanks to Talha Talib for managing the time for this interview. It was great interviewing him. Green Team wishes Talha Talib all the best for his future!
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