Dubai-based young Ammar bags gold in National Taekwondo

DUBAI: UAE-based Taekwondo black-belt Ammar Ashfaq won the gold medal in the 12th National Taekwondo Championship held recently at the Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad from December 8 to 13.

The 14 years and 11 months old Ammar Ashfaq fought with his opponents under-17 years old and under-68kg category and defeated rivals to clinch the gold medal. Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTWF) with the support of Korean Embassy Islamabad organized the championships which lasted for five days.

As many as 1200 athletes, 120 coaches, 50 technical officials and 40 national referees participated in the event. It is worth-mentioning here that 10 international referees duly qualified from World Taekwondo Federation (WTWF) conducted the extravaganza.

According to the organizers, this was the biggest ever competition in the history of Pakistan sports where 70 clubs from all provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan, Fata, Islamabad, Pakistan Army, Wapda and Railways participated. Black-belt Ammar was the first Pakistani who came to participate in the event from abroad and reached to the top of the podium. Black-belt Ammar was the only Pakistani who came to participate in the event from abroad and reached to the top of the podium. President Pakistan Taekwondo Federation Waseem Ahmed congratulated Ammar Ashfaq for winning the gold medal and expressed a hope that the young black-belt would be asset for Pakistan in international competitions.

Speaking to The news, Ammar Ashfaq said that he was delighted to get victory and thanked his coaches for their guidance and training him to achieve another landmark.Ammar Ashfaq has also won silver medal at the UAE national Championship few weeks back. The Black-belt combatant represented Pakistan in the world renowned event French Open World Taekwondo held last month in Paris while he also got the experience to play in First WTF President’s Cup held in Tashkent in August.Amar will now represent Pakistan in the Youth Olympic that will be held in Argentina next year.