Judo: Shahzaib out, Shah holds Pakistan’s hopes

National champion sent packing in Judo Grand Slam qualifying round.

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s national champion Shahzaib Hussain was shocked in the qualifying round of the Judo Grand Slam 2011’s sub-66 kilogramme category leaving the nation’s hope resting with Shah Hussain who launches his campaign today.

According to the Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) Secretary Masood Ahmed, Shahzaib lost to his Brazilian opponent to get knocked out of the event. Hussain, meanwhile, had already qualified for the main round and needs to win three out of his seven matches in order to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.

“I’m proud of Shahzaib for surviving three minutes as previously, our judokas weren’t able to hang in there for over a minute,” Ahmed told The Express Tribune. “He lost but the fight showed that Pakistan is making progress in the sport.”

Hussain will take on an Israeli opponent in his opening match today with the PJF resting its hopes in the Tokyo-based Pakistani.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2011.