Resources limited, competition tough, but karatekas confident

Pakistan team remains upbeat about their chances in Baku

KARACHI: Pakistan's 12-member karate team, featuring the creme de le creme of the country's male and female talent, will be competing at the upcoming Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku, Azerbaijan — a stage that team member and 2016 South Asian gold medallist Kulsoom Hazara is hoping to use to make her mark.

To make that happen, Kulsoom, who will be competing in the -68 kg event, has been training hard in Lahore for three months along with the rest of the team.

“Our preparation is great and I’m very excited about the Islamic Games,” the 28-year-old told The Express Tribune. “It’s a feeling of pride that I’m getting to compete there, although I know that it will not be easy; in fact karatekas from Egypt, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan are very talented and tough, so my aim will be to be as tactical as I can be.

"I want to repeat my performance from India. I was the only female karateka who managed to win a gold medal there so I have high hopes and I’m confident.”

A member of the Hazara community, Kulsoom is a national women champion who not only had to fight her opponents but also break stereotypes to become a professional karateka, thanks to her conservative surroundings.

Beenish Akbar is another member of the travelling 12 and will be participating in the 50kg event, whereas Naz Gul, Sana Kausar, Nargis and Shahida will compete in 55kg, 61kg, -68kg and kata competitions respectively.

Among the boys, 2014 US Open winner and former Asian champion Saadi Abbas will be the main weapon, and he will be supported by Muhammad Kashif in 60kg, Naseer Ahmed in 67kg, Imtiaz Ali in -84kg, Muhammad Ramzan in 84kg and Muhammad Jawad in kata event.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Karate Federation (PKF) secretary Andleeb Sandhu, the first women to manage a martial arts organisation in the country, feels that expectations from the squad should be kept in check due to the limited nature of their training camp.

“We have to be realistic because our athletes do not get the same facilities as the ones abroad do,” she said. “In fact, our camp also started a little late because of a lack of resources; we did the best we could.

"There is still a long way to go. I’ve also been an athlete so I understand that we can't not give players high-level training and expect results. Good results come with good investment. However, I’m positive that each of my players will give their best.”