KARACHI – When leaving for Bangladesh in late January to participate in the 11th South Asian Games, Naseem Hameed was little-known even in her neighborhood let alone across Pakistan.

But by the time she returned in mid-February with a gold medal in the 100-meter sprint had had already became a celebrity.

"It was the most joyful moment in my life," a jubilant Naseem, 23, told IslamOnline.net in an exclusive interview.

"Tears flew down my cheeks, and I bowed to Allah right there."

Naseem won the 100-meter sprint competition in the 2010 South Asian Games, setting a new South Asian record with 11.81 seconds.