Former powerlifter Sybil Sohail achieved a noteworthy feat when she became the first female Pakistani competitor to win a gold medal at the Asian Weightlifting Masters Championship in Doha, Qatar. With this victory, the 31-year-old weightlifting competitor made a significant international debut.
From Powerlifting Champion to Weightlifting Gold Medalist
Previously known as the Commonwealth Powerlifting Champion, Sybil competed in the 59kg weight category. She lifted a combined total of 95kg — 40kg in the snatch and 55kg in the clean and jerk — winning the gold medal. This achievement fulfilled a longstanding desire to present Pakistan on the continental platform
Sybil originates from Lahore and is part of the Christian community. She is the oldest of four sisters, which include Twinkle Sohail, Veronika Sohail, and Mariam Sohail. The Sohail sisters made an impact at the previous Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships by winning a total of 15 gold medals, with Sybil claiming six of those titles on her own.
Sybil attributes her introduction to weightlifting to her sister Twinkle and expresses gratitude to their instructor, Rashed Malik, for his assistance at their training center located on the Punjab University campus in Lahore. Twinkle, who has frequently trained Sybil, felt immense pride in her sister’s remarkable achievement, particularly because it was Sybil’s debut in an international weightlifting competition
The path to this achievement was challenging. In 2016, Sybil lost the opportunity to compete in the South Asian Games weightlifting trials because of a conflict with her exams. This obstacle only reinforced her determination over the subsequent nine years to reach her objectives.
Twinkle revealed that her own personal struggles, including missed chances from insufficient funding, have intensified their motivation to succeed. Their determination keeps motivating numerous young athletes throughout Pakistan.
Sybil’s success also confronts common misunderstandings regarding women and weightlifting. She asserts that weightlifting enhances muscle strength and general health without adversely impacting women’s hormonal levels or family dynamics.
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