Shah Hussain Shah of Pakistan (R) won the silver medal in the judo -100kg gold medal contest at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, July 26, 2014. PHOTO: REUTERS
Shah, pitted in Pool D for the -100kg event, will face the winner of the first-round fight between world number 17 Luciano Correa of Brazil and Azerbaijan’s Elkhan Mammadov on Sunday. His compatriot Wajahat Sarwar, competing in the same category and included in Pool B, will fight China’s Kai Hu on the same day.
According to Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) Secretary Masood Ahmed, Shah can stay on track for Rio if he wins at least one fight in the event.
Shah key to Olympic qualification
“This tournament is very important,” Ahmed told The Express Tribune. “Shah has improved his world ranking this year, but we will be striving to send him to at least seven to eight more international tournaments till May. He needs to be among the top 24 of the world to get a direct place for the Olympics.”
Shah is ranked 44 in the -100kg International Judo Federation rankings issued on November 28.
World Junior Championships: Pakistan to send two judokas to Abu Dhabi
The official added that the 22-year-old needs to break at least in the top 40 before next year to be considered for the continental quota.
“He needs to bring his top game to Tokyo,” said Ahmed. “He has the potential to qualify and if he succeeds, he can very well be the only hope for Pakistan in Rio as no athlete from any other sport has managed to qualify as yet.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 5th, 2015.
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