PESHAWAR: (APP) An 18-member Pakistan team left for India to participate in the forthcoming 3rd South Asian Senior and Junior Karate Championships to be commencing at New Delhi, India from September 23-25, 2016.
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Talking to APP, Pakistan team coach and double gold medalists of the SAF Games Khalid Noor said that Pakistan have earlier good record in the South Asian Karate Championship by winning two gold and two silver and this time the boys have toned up for winning more medals.
He said team will take part in the different categories like Senior, Junior and Female events. He said opportunities have also given to talented players who recorded excellent performance in the National Junior and Senior Championships. He said prior to the event they have a two month camp for 41 players short-listed for the South Asian Championship but only 18 players were given visa while visa for the others were refused. He said due to visa refusal, the team has been affected badly and most of the talented youth were deprived off competing at international level.
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He said the team have the services of international players and Commonwealth and US Open gold medalist Sadi Abbas, international gold medalist Baz Muhammad, National Champion Naseer Ahmad, National gold medalist Ismail Khan, all from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ibrahim Khan, Jawad Israr Ul Haq, the winner of gold medals in their respective weights.
Khalid Noor disclosed that Pakistan team have good chances of winning medals in the female category wherein player like South Asian Champion and medal winner Kalsoom, Qurat Ul Ain, Naz Gul, Nargis and Shahida will vie for the top honor. He said President Pakistan Karate Federation Jehangir Khan will act as manager of the team. He expressed the hope that the team would win medals in all three categories, Senior, Junior and Female events.