Pakistan to hold Judo event next month

India, SL confirm participation in the six-day event.

KARACHI: Pakistan will hold the ninth edition of the South Asian Judo Championship from May 9 in Islamabad, the first time an international judo event will take place in the country with officials from Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) looking forward to the championship.

“It is a historical event not just because it’s the first time we’ll be hosting it but also because our athletes will get home advantage for the first time,” PJF Secretary Masood Ahmed told The Express Tribune. “Previously, we would send our squads to different countries but the event will give a lot of confidence to our athletes.”

According to Ahmed, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are few of the interested countries that have confirmed their participation in the tournament, each team having 26 athletes who will compete in eight men’s and six women’s events in different categories.

“Our aim for the event is to improve ties between the south Asian countries. The message is to promote peace in the region. And for this a purpose, we have sought the government’s permission to provide adequate security to the teams and that has been assured to us.”

He also added that although the sports ministry was funding the event, the PJF was still in talks with various corporate sponsors to support the tournament.

“It is unfortunate that the previous PJF administrations never organised any international events. But now the sport has become more popular so the ministry has agreed to sponsor the event. Judo was ignored by the ministry but now this championship will be a new beginning for us.”



Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2011.