Medal-laden taekwondo squad returns

Total of four medals won at International Taekwondo Invitational Championship

KARACHI: Pakistan’s five-member squad returned to Islamabad yesterday following a fruitful outing in Malaysia where they won one gold, two silver and one bronze medal at the International Taekwondo Invitational Championship.

Vehari-based athlete Abdul Waqar Ahmed clinched the gold medal in the -80kg event, while Taimoor Sadiq took the silver medal in the +87 kg competition. Hannah Khan from Karachi bagged silver in the -73kg women’s competition, while Wasiuddin grabbed a bronze medal in the -68kg event.

“It was an amazing experience, also because this was the first time I competed at an international event,” Waqar told The Express Tribune. “I’m just excited. I must thank the Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF) and the coaches who really believed in us and sent us to Malaysia. Hopefully I will win many more medals for Pakistan in the future.”



Similarly, Sadiq said that participating at an international event for the first time and getting silver was a major confidence booster for him and he would want to pursue a career in the sport.

“It was a learning experience as I competed in the heavyweight category. I’m happy that I managed to win an accolade for Pakistan; very few people in my home town in Azad Jammu and Kashmir pick taekwondo as a sport,” said Taimoor.



On the other hand, PTF President Lt Colonel Waseem Ahmed said that it is vital for Pakistani athletes to compete at the invitational or smaller events before the Islamic Solidarity Games next year.

He also added that the Pakistan Sports Board and the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination should encourage sports federations who are making efforts and earning medals for the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2016.

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