Din Mohammad, Pakistan’s First Gold Medal Winner, passes away

Din Mohammad, who earned Pakistan’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal, passed away on July 3, 2025, after a prolonged illness in Lahore. He was 89 years old and is mourned as a pioneer of Pakistani wrestling.

Din Mohammad, Pakistan’s First Gold Medal Winner, passes away
Din Mohammad, Pakistan’s First Gold Medal Winner, passes away

Din Mohammad, who earned Pakistan’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal, passed away on July 3, 2025, after a prolonged illness in Lahore. He was 89 years old and is mourned as a pioneer of Pakistani wrestling.

  • 1954 Asian Games (Manila): First Pakistani to win Gold, in men’s freestyle flyweight wrestling 

  • Commonwealth Games: Earned a bronze medal in an early edition of the Games

  • Olympic Journey: Represented Pakistan in the 1960 Rome Olympics, ranking joint 12th in the lightweight class

  • Continued dominance: Held Pakistan national champion titles between 1957–1960

  • Born: October 9, 1936, in Jalandhar, British India

  • Migration: Moved to Faisalabad, Pakistan, in 1947 following Partition (All India → Pakistan)

  • Rise in wrestling: Began competing locally; rose to fame after national championships (1957–60) and international medals

  • Dawn: Reported his death at 89 after prolonged illness, acknowledging his historic 1954 triumph (dawn.com)

  • The News International and Geo News: Remembered him as a trailblazer who brought Pakistan its first-ever international gold medal

  • Daily Times: Headline: “Pakistan’s first Asian Games champion Deen Muhammad passes away”; described him as an icon over 100 years old 

  • Sports authorities:

  • Punjab Sports Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar called his achievements “unforgettable national contributions.”

  • Punjab Sports Board DG Khizar Afzal Chaudhry requested prayers and declared him a symbol of national pride

  • 1936: Born in Jalandhar

  • 1947: Migrated to Faisalabad, Pakistan

  • 1954: Won gold at Manila Asiad – Pakistan’s first gold at the Asian Games

  • Late 1950s: Claimed national championships

  • 1960: Competed in the Rome Olympics – reached joint 12th in lightweight

  • 1960s: Awarded Commonwealth Games bronze

  • 1968: Retired from competitive wrestling

  • 2025: Passed away in Lahore after an illness

  • Trailblazer in sport: Din Mohammad’s gold medal boosted Pakistani wrestling’s credibility and inspired future champions

  • Role model: Top Pakistani wrestlers have cited him as foundational to their careers

  • National hero: Established wrestling’s reputation and demonstrated Pakistan’s sporting potential during the formative years

  • Historical symbol: His life story bridges early post-Partition Pakistan and modern athletic achievement

His passing represents more than a personal loss—it marks the end of an era in Pakistan’s sports heritage

National and regional memorials reflect the respect held for an athlete who brought international pride

Members of the wrestling community and sports federations have begun organizing tributes and memorial matches

Din Mohammad, Pakistan’s first-ever Asian Games gold medalist, passed away at the age of 89 after a long illness in Lahore. Celebrated for his historic 1954 victory in Manila, Olympic participation, and Commonwealth success, he remains a foundational figure in Pakistan’s sporting narrative. His death caps a life of excellence, national pride, and enduring inspiration. As sports communities pay tribute, his legacy strengthens Pakistan's wrestling foundation.