KARACHI:
Pakistan will send four players to the World Taekwondo Olympic Qualifiers that are scheduled to begin in Azerbaijan from July 1.
The Pakistan Taekwondo Federation coach Mohammad Murtaza is training Shahzad Khan and Mohammad Atif for the 48kg and 80kg events, while Kiran Bano and Samia Naz will compete in the 49kg and 57kg categories during the tournament that features 56 other countries. The players will leave for Baku on June 29.
The 21-year-old Bano, who is the most senior player in the squad, is the key for Pakistan’s chances, according to Murtaza. The coach said that Bano, who reached the second round of the qualifiers in 2007, is the best athlete Pakistan had.
“We have our hopes pinned on her,” Murtaza told The Express Tribune. “She has the experience and is our best female athlete. Our male athletes are the South Asian Games gold medalists, therefore, they have the confidence to compete in the qualifiers.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2011.
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