Hamza bags Asian Taekwondo silver for Pakistan

Pakistan’s Hamza Omar Saeed grabbed the silver medal at the Combaxx Asian Taekwondo Open finals on Sunday.

Saeed finished second to Afghanistan’s Ali Akbar Ameeri in the +87 category, while Egypt’s Mohammad Ali secured the bronze medal.

The winners shared the podium and the stage with squash legend Jahangir Khan who was present at the medal ceremony.

Pakistan is hosting the 5th edition of the Asian Taekwondo Open. It is one of the major sports events held in the country this year with athletes participating in it from several different nations.

Earlier, Croatia's Leon Glasnovic defeated Afghanistan's Zain Hikmatullah to win the gold medal in the men's -68 kg final on the first day of the Kyorugi event.

Bexultan Mussa Khan of Kazakhstan won the bronze medal while Elder Birimbay of Kazakhstan won the fourth bronze.

In the men's -74 category final, Uzbekistan's Najmiddin Kosimkhojiev defeated Afghanistan's Omid Sahak 2-0 to win the gold medal, Jordan's Muhammad Othman won the bronze and Mahmood Khan of Pakistan won the fourth bronze.

In -87, Pakistan's Ikhtisham-ul-Haq defeated world ranking number 13 Michael Rodriguez of America 2-0 to win the gold medal, Kazakhstan's Nurbul Yersaiynov won bronze, and Pakistan's Mohammad Adnan got the fourth bronze.

In the women's -49 category final, Indonesia's Ni Kadek Heni won the gold medal by defeating Nepal's Anjali Tamang 2-1 after an exciting contest, while Afghanistan's Zarghana Noori won the bronze. Pakistan’s Sheeza Jawad won the fourth bronze.

In the final of the women's -57 category, Mariya Sevostyanova of Kazakhstan defeated Noor Rehman of Pakistan 2-0, Sabira Bibi of Pakistan won the bronze and Araliym of Kazakhstan won the fourth bronze medal.

In women's 73-kg, Lauren Williams of Great Britain defeated her compatriot Emily Sutherland 2-0 and won the gold medal.

Pakistan's Bushra Zuberi won the bronze medal while against Kazakhstan's Diana Absenova, she won the gold medal by winning 2-0.