Pakistan’s legendary sprinter Abdul Khaliq may be getting his own biopic soon. The film is being produced by Jamil Baig, the owner of Nueplex, Karachi’s largest cinema chain. The biggest headline is that Hamza Ali Abbasi will be essaying the main role.
The film will be called “Abdul Khaliq: The Flying Bird”, in reference to the title “Flying Bird of Asia” given to him by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the 1956 Delhi Indo-Pak Meet. The film will cover the sprinter’s journey from the Artillery Regiment to the world athletics stage.
At this point, there is no tentative release date, but we can hope it’ll be released sometime in 2025.
Who Was Abdul Khaliq?
Abdul Khaliq was among Pakistan’s first sporting superstars, and he was in good company. In the 1950s Pakistan was already making waves in the international community for its sporting talent.
Hashim Khan, Roshan Khan and Azam Khan dominated Squash at the British and US Opens.
Fazal Mahmood, Hanif Mohammad and Abdul Hafeez Kardar were making waves in cricket with innovations in fast bowling and batting.
The Pakistani Hockey Team had begun dominating the game, clinching golds at the Asian Games and the Olympics.
However, Abdul Khaliq was in a league of his own.
He won 36 international gold medals, 15 silver medals, and 12 bronze medals. Not only did he win multiple golds at the Asian Games, but he also dominated competitions in Europe, Japan, England, and Malaysia.
Abdul Khaliq winning gold in the 100 m sprint at the 1958 Asian Games.
He was also a two-time Olympian at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics.
After his decorated career, he coached other sprinters from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Despite this, his country has largely forgotten him.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
I remember the first time I heard about him was when the Farhan Akhtar-led “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” was released in 2013. The climax showed Milkha Singh’s victory against Abdul Khaliq in a race at Lahore stadium in 1960.
The two sprinters were rivals on the track, but greatly respected each other’s talent. After Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’s release, a few articles were published about Abdul Khaliq’s achievements on the international stage.
Abdul Khaliq’s Military Service
A lesser-known part of Abdul Khaliq is his military service. He was originally recruited as a sprinter from the military. He also served in the wars of 1965 and 1971. He was among the over 90,000 prisoners of war in the latter. When offered an early release by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, he refused, choosing to wait with his fellow soldiers.
Abdul Khaliq’s biopic is coming at a time when Pakistani sports are in decline. Cricket, Hockey, and Squash have all slipped through our fingers. However, it is also a time of great hope since Arshad Nadeem’s Javelin Throw Gold Medal and Olympic Record have given us representation on the world stage.
With interest in athletics building, Abdul Khaliq’s biopic could fuel the next generation of Pakistan’s athletes. We hope it does.
“Abdul Khaliq: The Flying Bird” begins shooting in January 2025.
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