LAHORE: Pakistan`s first Asian gold medallist in 200metre race, Sharif Butt (88) died in Rawalpindi on Monday.

Sharif`s close relative Salman Iqbal Butt, who is also a former national athlete and now president of Punjab Athletics Federation, told Dawn that Sharif survived by five sons and four daughters.

Sharif bagged a gold medal at the 1954 Asian Games in Manila, Philippines in the 200 metres race.

In the same games, Pakistani athletes dominated as another big name of A Khalig also earned gold in the 100m race, while Mirza Khan clinched gold in 400m hurdles, while M Nawaz stood first in the javelin event.Sharif also had the honour to participate in the first National Games held in Karachi in 1948, where he shook hands with the Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, while welcoming him on the venue.

Sharif served in the Police department till 1987.

The Punjab Athletics Association has condoled the sad demise.-Sports Reporter