Tags; Islamabad, Pakistan, March 28 2010, DAWN News: Sarmad Tariq may not be able to walk still stands tall than most of us. And that’s because he has got the determination to conquer what others deem defeat.
Also known as “The Chairman”, Tariq holds an MBA degree, works nine-to-five job and is a story teller – motivational speaker. A swimming accident at the age of 15 paralyzed Tariq shoulder down, confining him to a wheelchair and hence the title.
But with a will to overcome great challenges, he believed that his physical confinement was the reason for his spiritual liberation.
And this was exactly why he was pushing the extra mile to reach new heights of endurance – hand –cycling to show that whatever the challenges he could be an inspiration to others.
To inspire others, Tariq hand-cycled his custom-made three wheeler, taking friends and acquaintance along through the streets of Islamabad on Sunday evening.
 The group, over a dozen riders, comprising men, women and children cycled for two hours before completing their run back in F-9 Park where they had started.
The bike ride was called ‘Road to inspiration’ a project that was conceived two years ago.
“Hand-cycling is a relatively new adaptive sport for people with physical challenges. We covered an enduring distance in a certain time frame. This is a symbolic event to mainly highlight the challenges brought due spinal cord injury. And I am doing this to introduce new adaptive/disability sports in Pakistan” Tariq said at the end of the ride.
“ He produces a positive atmosphere that helps others gain with challenges, gives them confidence and independence” said a close friend of his.
“anybody not contributing for the country is probably more disabled” said Taimoor Saleem, another friend, adding this was not about survival but about differently ‘-abled’ people.
Equally exhilarated to be back on two wheels was Ms Atifa who believed, “Tariq has the courage to show that people with challenges can be part of something they probably never dreamed of.”
Resilience has been the key to his success. Among regular achievements, Tariq holds the world record of longest nonstop drive by a quadriplegic driving his hand-controlled car for 33 hour, covering 1,847 km from Khyber to Karachi. In January 2005, he was the first ever and only wheelchair-bound athlete in Lahore Marathon, finishing the race of 42 km in seven and half hours and qualifying to represent his country in ING New York City Marathon 2005 and made history for Pakistan by returning with a finisher’s medal.
Not only is he busy working on his hand-cycle to set a land speed record by taking it to 100 km/hr but he also aspire to participate in international marathon.