Karate: Saadi clinches bronze in Tashkent

Only Pakistani to impress at Asian Seniors Championship.

KARACHI: Saadi Abbas was the only Pakistan player to win a medal as the individual events at the Asian Seniors Championship  ended yesterday.

An eight-member squad took part in the event with Saadi defeating his Iranian opponent in the last bout to claim a bronze medal.

According to Pakistan Karate Federation (PKF) Secretary Shamim Hashmi, Abbas’ impressive run included winning four matches on his way to the semi-finals, raising the country’s hopes of a good show at the world championship in November.

“We were only pinning our hopes on Abbas,” said Hashmi. “Other players crashed out in the preliminary rounds so that shows Abbas is the only player we can bank on. The experience will help the other players in preparing for the South Asian Championship, while Abbas is now training for the world championships.”

Pakistan will compete in the team event that starts today, taking on Iran and hosts Uzbekistan in two rounds. The team also includes two women players Kulsoom Hazara and Beenish Akbar who are taking part in the Asian Championship for the first time.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2012.