We’re not cheats, says Vietnam official
Denies Pakistan’s version in Asian Taekwondo Championship. Say no news from Asian Union despite Pakistan complaint.
KARACHI:
After being accused of wrongfully stripping a Pakistan player off his bronze medal at the Asian Taekwondo Championship, the Vietnam Taekwondo Federation (VTF) has denied the version of the story, stating that no such incident took place.
The Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF) President Iftikhar Ahmad Tabassum had said that Shah Adil was announced a third-place winner in the 52-kilogramme category of the event but the Vietnam officials reversed the decision.
A VTF spokesperson said that no Pakistani won a medal and it was awarded to the deserving Vietnamese player.
“We have no information about any incident,” said the spokesperson. “The Pakistani athlete was knocked out in the bout. Why would we announce a winner and take it back? The Asian Taekwondo Union officials were present and the event was taking place live in front of the whole world. We haven’t heard from the Asian Union even if the PTF have in fact complained about it.”
The PTF has already lodged a complaint against the VTF.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2012.
After being accused of wrongfully stripping a Pakistan player off his bronze medal at the Asian Taekwondo Championship, the Vietnam Taekwondo Federation (VTF) has denied the version of the story, stating that no such incident took place.
The Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF) President Iftikhar Ahmad Tabassum had said that Shah Adil was announced a third-place winner in the 52-kilogramme category of the event but the Vietnam officials reversed the decision.
A VTF spokesperson said that no Pakistani won a medal and it was awarded to the deserving Vietnamese player.
“We have no information about any incident,” said the spokesperson. “The Pakistani athlete was knocked out in the bout. Why would we announce a winner and take it back? The Asian Taekwondo Union officials were present and the event was taking place live in front of the whole world. We haven’t heard from the Asian Union even if the PTF have in fact complained about it.”
The PTF has already lodged a complaint against the VTF.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2012.