Farhan Saeed, former frontman of the renowned Pakistani band Jal and now a singer-songwriter and actor, took to Instagram to publicly express his pride after Sybil Sohail became the first Pakistani woman to win the gold medal at the Asian Weightlifting Masters Championship in Doha, Qatar.

In a simple Instagram Story, Saeed tagged Sohail herself and wrote, “Proud moment. Congratulations.” Adding a Pakistani flag emoji at the end of his short but sweet message to lock in his national pride, Saeed’s simple message captured the essence of the country’s joy and pride in Sohail’s achievement.

This was not the first time Saeed has used his social media platform to highlight Pakistani sporting excellence. When javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem clinched gold at the Asian Athletics Championship by defeating a strong Indian contender in the men’s javelin final in May, Saeed took to Instagram Story to extend his congratulations on the historic victory.

Sohail, 31, competed in the 59kg weight category in Doha. She lifted a total of 95kg — 40kg in the snatch and 55kg in the clean and jerk — to secure her place at the top of the podium.

This gold medal marked not only her debut in international weightlifting but also a significant milestone for Pakistani women in strength sports.

Previously a decorated powerlifter, Sohail holds titles such as Commonwealth Powerlifting Champion and Asian Commonwealth Powerlifting Champion. Transitioning to weightlifting, she set out with a clear ambition: to raise Pakistan’s flag at major Asian events.

“I aim to make my country proud, make my family proud. We have sacrificed a lot for the sport, but I need to make sure that all of that effort and dedication pays off,” Sohail told The Express Tribune in Doha.