Pakistani man breaks world record in indoor rowing

Islamabad, Jan 16 (ANI): Mohammad Zubair broke the world record of individual longest continual rowing in Pakistan when he rowed 10 hours straight at a private fitness club on Saturday.

Under the supervision of both international and national rowing umpires from the Pakistan Rowing Federation, the 31-year-old Mohammad Zubair broke the previous record of 7 hours 11 minutes and 22 seconds held by an Australian on the Concept II indoor rowing machine, The Dawn reports.

He stopped short of completing 100 kilometers for which he started again to finish the remaining 1,200 meters in roughly six minutes.

The record in this age group and weight category was held by Shane Usher, from Melbourne, Australia.

By the time Mohammad Zubair broke the record he had rowed 72 kilometers, which was reportedly equal to 13 laps of the Rawal Lake or rowing from Islamabad to as far as Mansehra.

Pakistan's only International Rowing Umpire, and Executive Member of the Pakistan Rowing Federation, Imtiaz Ahmad Khan said indoor rowing was today a recognized sport around the world.

"The game requires athletes to row two kilometers. The athlete who rows the fasts wins the race. Pakistans Maqbool Ahmad who has participated in Asian and World Championships in indoor machine rowing holds the record of fastest covering of 2 kilometers in 6 minutes and 18seconds," Khan, said. (ANI)