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Saadi wins gold for Pakistan at Asian Karate
July 29, 2011
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Pakistan’s Saadi Abbas created history when he won gold at the Asian Karate Championships after beating Kim Ju Won of South Korea in the -67kg weight category title showdown in China on Saturday.Saadi Abbas put up a dazzling performance to win gold in his 67kgs bout of the 10th Asian Karate Championship.
Saadi, who belongs to Karachi and represents WAPDA in the national circuit, not only became the first Pakistani but also the first South Asian to have clinched gold in the Asian Championship.
Saadi, also the winner of a gold medal in Commonwealth Championship, demonstrated brilliance and prowess to beat his respective opponents from Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Hong Kong to get a place in the final.In all,526 players from 33 countries of Asia participated in the Championship.Meanwhile a spokesman of Pakistan Karate Federation said that “It is a matter of great honour for Pakistan that any Pakistani Karate player demonstrated a higher level of game to win a gold medal in a Asian Championship”.He said the PKF in collaboration with Pakistan Sports Board organized three weeks training camp in Iran and one month training camp in Peshawar to prepare its team to feature in the Asian Championship
It is a dream come true,Saadi told.
Saadi beat tough karatekas from Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Hong Kong to reach the final, a journey which the experienced player completed with great courage.
”I had to confront some tough rivals in the early stages but I was in good form and had confidence as well as a solid game plan to beat them. In the final, I was facing a tough opponent but thank God everything went fine and I came out victorious, he said.
Now, Saadi aims to clinch a medal at world level.
Last time, I ended seventh in the world event but now it would be my top priority to get a medal in the World Championship, Saadi said.
He said that the trip to Iran helped him ahead of the Championships.
Meanwhile, the president of the Pakistan Karate Federation (PKF) Mohammad Jehangir termed SaadiAbbas victory an historic one.
Saadi has made all of us proud with his spectacular display. I hope that he will continue earning more big titles for the country, Jehanir told this correspondent from China.
Baz Muhammad (60kg), Muhammad Kashif (-55kg), Imtiaz Ali (-75kg) and Muhammad Ramzan (-85kg) were the other Pakistani players who put up valiant fight but failed to go beyond the quarter-finals. On Sunday (today), Pakistan will fight in the Team Kumite.
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