Judo officials eye medals at Commonwealth event

Federation includes two Japan-based players in team.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) has pinned its hopes on Karamat Butt and Japan-based Mohammad Shahzaib and Shah Hussain Shah as the three-member team gears up for the first Commonwealth Judo Championship that starts from January 22 in Wales.

According to PJF Secretary Masood Ahmed, five players were shortlisted but only Butt, Shahzaib and Shah made the cut. While Shahzaib will take part in the -66-kilogramme (kg) category, Butt will contest the -81-kg event and Shah will compete in the -100-kg category.

Ahmed said the PJF preferred choosing players from Pakistan but visa issues had influenced their decision. “Visa issues came up and we had to go with two judokas from Japan,” Ahmed told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2012.