Asian Beach Games: Pakistan jiu-jitsu team to depart for Vietnam

Athletes aiming to defend and win more titles in different categories

KARACHI: Pakistan will be looking to defend their titles at the 2016 Asian Beach Games as the 14-member squad leaves for Vietnam tomorrow.

The Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation (PJJF) announced their final team for the event last week. The squad includes Muhammad Ammar, who won a gold medal and silver medal in the men’s duo and mixed duo events respectively in the previous edition of the games in Thailand, where Pakistan bagged five medals — two golds and three silvers — in total.

Ammar said he will be partnering compatriot Abu Hurraira again and believes that the competition will be tougher than before.

“It’s going to be hard because all other countries are improving their game,” Ammar told The Express Tribune. “We’ll be up against the Southeast Asian countries and most of them are tough to beat them. But we’re prepared.”

He further said that the team has been training for more than a month in two camps — one in Karachi and another in Lahore — and the combined camp has now been moved to Islamabad.

Ammar added that the conditions in Vietnam will be similar to that of Karachi’s but the challenge for the players will be to make their stamina last, as competing at the beach usually affects performances due to the humidity.

“Humidity is a key factor and it can wear you out easily during the match,” said Ammar. “So we have to be ready to fight till the end, as we have a responsibility to defend the titles we won last time.”

Meanwhile, PJJF official and coach Tariq Ali said he is confident about the team that comprises nine men and five women.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2016.

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