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Updated 19 Aug, 2016

We said it before, we'll say it again: when it comes to push-ups, it's all about form.

But apparently our politicians didn't get the memo.

Last week, Sindh's sports minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar challenged Punjab's sports minister, Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, to 50 push-ups and then went on to bust out 50 push-ups of his own.

Unfortunately, (we'll give him the benefit of the doubt) he was more focused on pumping in the number than getting his form right.

He was followed by PML-N leader Arbab Khizer Hayat, who decided to do 50 push-ups, lift 100kg and run 200 meters just to, you know, drive his point home.

While the two fight it out in the gym we took the liberty of taking a close look at their push-up execution.

First up: Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar

He starts out ok, but then... no. Just no. Oh, it gets worse!

As far as fitness goals go, we're not sure if Mahar was aiming for a modified 'cobra' pose or some other yoga-inspired move. We do know that his strategic camera placement worked to to make sure his faults were mostly hidden, but unfortunately for him, we saw right through it.

When you do a push-up your body is supposed to rise and fall in unison, but the sport's minister's hips seem to be moving independently of his torso.

Also, (important!) a real push-up sees you getting your chest real close to the ground.

Totally not happening in this clip.

Second up: Arbab Khizer Hayat

Sir, we would gladly correct your form, but we don't know where to start.

In your effort to do push-ups you've invented a new yoga pose, one we'd like to call 'The Swimming Cobra'.

See how Hayat lifts up his torso first, then lets his hips follow? This is wrong. It negates the entire philosophy of the push-up, which is to hoist the entire body aloft in one thrust.

We personally feel Hayat should just not do push-ups. After all, a PML-N leader doesn't need that stuff. Pftt, you've got more pressing matters to deal with.

This is what a real push-up looks like

If we weren't already clear enough, we've got our man Mr Pakistan showing you how a push-up is actually done.

See how his body moves up and down as one unit? And how his head and neck remains aligned with his back all the way through?

Mr Pakistan says: "You should keep your body straight, like a plank, and do not drop your head or raise your glutes. When your chest nearly touches the ground, exhale as you push up with your hands."

What's more, the stomach is pulled in and taut in a plank position. Arm distance is slightly wider than the shoulders but in-line. When lowering the upper body with the arms, everything comes down in a straight line. The elbows bend out to the side as you come down.

As you can see, it's much, much harder to do one push-up correctly, let alone 50. Watch and learn, ministers, watch and learn.

Now that they know how it's done, we challenge our ministers to do the said number of push-ups keeping their form in check!

Comments

Syed Mudathir Shah Aug 19, 2016 04:11pm
Hater's comment: Although its nice to be sporty and do push-ups, but being sportsman or doing so-called push-ups does not necessarily make a better Sports Minister. Can he remain impartial in his office, can he resist the corrupt offers, can he administer justice across the board, can he ensure merit in selection, can he ensure transparency in finances, can he improve civil service under his command, can he improve the working condition and working style of him Ministry, can he keep the political interference away from the sports, can he give precedence to national interest over the party interest????????
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aslam shaikh Aug 19, 2016 04:12pm
Billionaires trying to act macho. How dare we question the pose of sain.
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El Cid Aug 19, 2016 05:02pm
These are all too slow and too easy. Bovine, not lionel. Lets see you weaklings do 90 clap pushups in 60seconds. In clap pushups I elevate my feet on a 29" high bench then pushup with power and speed and clap forward above my head. And repeat. 90 in 60 seconds, my regular, three times a week. My best 110/60!
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AdHawk Aug 19, 2016 05:09pm
Good tips. No surprises that just as with everything else in their lives these politicians look for shortcuts in push-up technique as well.
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TariqCanada Aug 19, 2016 06:13pm
At least he has introduce physical fitness to the politician world clogged up with Greasy figures
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TariqCanada Aug 19, 2016 06:14pm
Even my hi school son does better than this and disqualify all those so called push ups
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Faiza Salman Aug 19, 2016 06:15pm
Minister should become popular by doing his job. Promoting sports in his province and resulting in winning olympic medals for Pakistan. We are not impressed by the push ups.
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Agha Ata Aug 19, 2016 08:07pm
You made this exercise so interesting and tempting, that I wouldn't be surprised if the said minister would stop doing everything else and just do push ups all day along in front of a mirror and in the presence of his wife at home. (Which might please her at least if nobody else.)
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cache Aug 19, 2016 08:27pm
@Syed Mudathir Shah Sports is not just for athletes. I think that its good that our ministers are having this public feud because that has us at least talking about pushups and the correct form. I think this should encourage a lot of people to ask themselves if they can actually do a pushup at all.
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Arisha G Aug 19, 2016 08:48pm
@TariqCanada has he? or is this just a gimmick for the social media savvy crowd?? A flash in the pan. We need actual work done on the ground as well as getting people talking about issues.....
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Afzal Mir Aug 19, 2016 10:11pm
@Faiza Salman Well said Faiza.
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Zack Aug 19, 2016 11:30pm
Why his personal fitness is the topic for discussion? what are his credentials and experience to do the job? what has he done so far in finding issues and laying out a plan to improve things? Does he posses anything other than his connections to get the job which he is so proud off? If yes, then please show your competence on the job...because push-ups or no push-ups does not solve any issues. Be real for a change.
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Uzair Aug 20, 2016 08:46am
Aah the tragedy of Pakistan. Ministers challenging each other to push-up competition, as if all the problems related to sports have been resolved. Forgot the Rio Olympics already?
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HGT Aug 20, 2016 08:51am
The PML-N minister is using his knees to lift the body LOL.
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Deepa Aug 20, 2016 01:10pm
He's not doing a push-up, it's more like a yoga pose.
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zaheer Aug 20, 2016 01:18pm
if you guys haven't heard about the term CHEATING in body building it actually tells you its ok to Cheat and do more reps as it helps you to build your stamina--- its ok to Cheat minister-- carry on
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Adil Aug 20, 2016 10:23pm
A competition must be a sports minister against a sports minister. Secondly the push-ups led by both ministers were wrongly done. This shows that whatever they are doing is not right and needs correction.
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El Cid Aug 21, 2016 05:15am
@Syed Mudathir Shah A sports minister first of all needs to be physically fit, accomplished at sports, set an example and be an admired role model. Why do you think the US picked Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr Universe for the job?
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oregata Aug 22, 2016 09:27am
I am going to hire someone to do push-ups for me.
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