PKF wants its fighters to train abroad under IOC scheme

KARACHI: Pakistan Karate Federation (PKF) is desperately looking forward to the output of its request which it has filed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) regarding training of its athletes in connection with preparations for the 2020 Olympics qualifiers.
“We have filed a request with the POA and the NOC has already sent it to the IOC. The IOC will now forward it to the World Karate Federation (WKF) and I am very hopeful that under the scheme of Olympic Solidarity a couple of our fighters will be able to train abroad to prepare for the Olympic qualifiers,” PKF chairman Mohammad Jehangir told The News in an interview on Wednesday.
This is the first time that karate would be part of the Olympics. Tokyo would host the coming Olympics. Pakistan’s seasoned karateka Saadi Abbas (75kg) and Naseer Ahmed (67) would benefit of the project if finalised.
“Both Saadi and Naseer are the best. It would also be a better step to send a couple of fighters for training as in that case they would be able to adjust properly,” Jehangir said.Jehangir said that he has also talked to the WKF chief and hopefully Pakistan’s case would be approved.
“I had met the WKF president in October on the sideline of the world body’s Congress in Spain and he told me that he will recommend when IOC would send it to it,” the official said. Jehangir said if approved the PKF would then prepare a plan for the duo where they should get training.
He said if quality training was given to Saadi he could qualify for the 2020 Games.“No doubt he is a seasoned campaigner and in great form. More recently in Dubai Premier League he had finished fifth by losing in the quarter-finals. It was a big event and 155 fighters from the world had participated in it,’ Jehangir conceded.
Saadi has won several international medals for the country during his illustrious career. He basically has been groomed in Dubai where he was permanently settled with his family. He also has to his credit two gold in the Commonwealth Championship and a gold in the US Open. More recently Saadi in a video message had requested for state support in a bid to qualify for Olympics.
Naseer Ahmed Mengal is also a fine product, having won gold in the 12th South Asian Games in India last year.In the history of martial arts Pakistani judoka Shah Hussain is the only player who has represented the country in Olympics when he did so by taking part in the 2016 Rio Games.
Jehangir said that it was just the start as karate had recently become part of Olympics.“It’s just the start. And once we will begin the process we will know exactly the situation and will the plan accordingly,” the official said.