Team gearing up for Asian taekwondo event

Juniors forced to pull out of another tournament in Vietnam.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF) will only send a seniors’ team to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to take part in the Asian Championship after the juniors pulled out of another event that starts from May 5.

According to PTF President Iftikhar Ahmad Tabassum, the federation will send a five-member seniors’ squad for the Asian event after the juniors were forced to re-think their plans due to their upcoming examinations. While the juniors’ team was being sent for international exposure and experience, Tabassum added that they will have to wait until the next opportunity presents itself.

“We wanted to send the juniors so that they get some much-needed exposure,” Tabassum told The Express Tribune. “However, they have their exams and now we’re focusing on the senior team’s performance.” Meanwhile, the PTF president added that preparations were underway for the national championship that starts from May 11.

“This event will help us gauge the fitness levels of players so that we can finalise the squad for the South Asian Games in India later this year.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2012.