World Jiu-Jitsu Championship: Debutants Hurraira, Ammar enhance reputation with silver

Athletes hoping PSB will recognise their achievement

KARACHI: After successful debuts at the 2015 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Bangkok, athletes Abu Hurraira and Muhammad Ammar believe their efforts have increased Pakistan’s reputation at the international level.

Hurraira and Ammar clinched silver in the duo system category after defeating Netherlands, India and Vietnam in the previous stages before being overcome by France at the final hurdle.

“It’s huge. We were the underdogs in the competition and I feel like we’ve shocked a lot of people,” Hurraira told The Express Tribune.

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“It’s not a small feat to go to the World Championship for the first time and win a silver medal. We were a better side than France, the judges and officials who saw our match told us so later,” he said, while adding that all their hard work to fund themselves through loans and six-eight hours of practice daily had paid off.

The athlete further said that overcoming their European counterparts also validated their skills as their rivals had better facilities. “We practice on wrestling mats in Karachi which are much softer than the jiu-jitsu floor so it takes a while to adjust to a change in conditions.”

Both Hurraira and Ammar said that although the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had provided them with a camp at the National Coaching Centre in Karachi, where they trained under coach Tariq Ali, the body needed to find ways to help support them on their international assignments.

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Meanwhile, Ammar said that the situation is getting better for jiu-jitsu players as the sport is picking up in the country.

“We need sponsors, and we are hoping that the PSB can reward us for our achievement and cover the expenses we had to bear,” he said.

The duo will now prepare for the Sian Championship scheduled to take place in January.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2015.

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