Asian Indoor Games: Pakistan bag five medals in ju-jitsu events

Ammar, Hurraira claim silver in men's duo classic event

KARACHI: Pakistan's Muhammad Ammar and Abu Hurraira made the country proud by taking the first major medal in the ju-jitsu men's duo classic event at the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat on Saturday.

The 2015 World Ju-jitsu Championship silver-medallists made a successful debut at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts games, where they won two out of their three matches in the event to take silver, closely losing out to Turkmenistan that won all of their three matches.

The men's duo classic event was featuring four countries including Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Thailand and Tajikistan.

Ammar and Hurraira defeated Turkmenistan 81-80, Tajikistan 78.5-64, but lost to Thailand 100.5-101 after a close competition in the league format.

Meanwhile, in women's duo classic event Komal Emmanuel and Sonia Manzoor took the bronze medal and remained consistent to bag another bronze in the women's classic duo show event.

"It has been a good event for us and this was just our debut," Ammar told The Express Tribune from Ashgabat. "It was tough but we did our best. It feels good to have a medal in the games and this was more of a challenge as we had been very stressed out before the event."

Ammar said that the time for preparation was shorter and if the players had gotten more training time they would have been able to get a gold medal too.

"We trained for the games in a month. There was a month-long camp and then it was tough to be going to Lahore from Karachi and there were many issues, but we made it, and I feel all of that paid off, and a silver doesn't feel so bad in the given situation," said Ammar.

He added that the medals by female athletes are also very encouraging for the remaining competitions at the games.

The Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation (PJF) is fielding 14 athletes in duo system, fight system and Ne-waza events.

"We are very proud of our women," said Ammar. "They've put up a good fight and they were worked really hard. We also try to support them as much as we can. In fact the atmosphere in the squad is that of a family's. If any one of us wins a medal it inspires us all, and our female athletes, both Komal and Sonia are very inspiring."

Sonia also took her third bronze medal of the day when she paired with Shahzeb Nawaz Janjua in the mixed duo system competition.

On the other hand, women wrestler Ambreen Masih took a bronze medal in the traditional wrestling event.

So far Pakistan have one silver medal and four bronze medals and they are sitting on the third place behind Turkmenistan and Thailand on the medals tally.

There are 10 countries competing at the Games in Ashgabat.