Pakistan's swimming team endured another difficult day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as all four swimmers in action on Saturday failed to progress beyond the heats, extending the country's disappointing campaign in the pool.
Despite determined performances, Jehan Ara Nabi, Ahmed Durrani, Hamza Asif and Hareem Malik were unable to secure qualification for the next round in their respective events against a highly competitive international field.
In the women's 200-metre freestyle, Jehan Ara Nabi clocked 2:11.16, finishing 29th among 36 swimmers, falling short of a place in the final.
Ahmed Durrani also struggled to make an impact in the men's 400-metre freestyle, posting a time of 4:14.85 to finish 22nd out of 27 competitors, ending his campaign in the event at the heats stage.
Pakistan's fastest swimmer Hamza Asif competed in the highly competitive men's 50-metre freestyle, where he recorded 24.17 seconds to finish 39th among 68 swimmers. With only the top 16 advancing to the semi-finals, Hamza narrowly missed the qualification mark despite a spirited effort against one of the strongest sprint fields at the Games.
In the women's 100-metre breaststroke, Hareem Malik completed the race in 1:22.51, placing 27th among 28 competitors, as she too bowed out in the preliminary round.
The results continued Pakistan's difficult start in the swimming competition after Jehan Ara Nabi and Ahmed Durrani were also unable to progress beyond the heats on the opening day of the Games.
Pakistan is competing at the Commonwealth Games with a 36-member contingent across multiple disciplines, hoping to make a strong impression on the international stage. While the swimming team has faced a challenging beginning, the national contingent will now look to its remaining athletes to deliver improved performances and positive results as the Games continue in Glasgow.
Although the swimmers could not advance, their participation against some of the Commonwealth's elite athletes provides valuable international exposure and experience that will be crucial for Pakistan's future development in competitive swimming.