Pakistan strike gold in Asian Karate

Abbas beats Korea’s Ju Won in the final.

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s Saadi Abbas bagged gold in the Asian Karatedo Senior Championship when he defeated South Korea’s Kim Ju Won 2-1 in the 65-kilogramme event in China yesterday.

Abbas became the first South Asian to win a gold medal in the event, having played five matches before reaching the final where he beat opponents from Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

“It’s a dream come true,” Abbas told The Express Tribune after beating Won who had won a silver medal at last year’s World Championships. “It’s extremely difficult for any South Asian to outplay athletes from China, Japan and Korea as these countries produce the best players. Being able to win gold here is the biggest achievement ever.

“It’s not just about the medal but the feeling and realisation that I am better then them is just amazing. Even the Indian and Sri Lankan athletes were congratulating me.”

Abbas had also won Commonwealth Games gold last year.

Pakistan will take part in four other categories today with Baz Muhammad (60kg), Muhammad Kashif (55kg), Imtiaz Ali (75kg) and Muhammad Ramzan (85kg).



Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2011.