Pakistan bags bronze in World Ju-Jitsu C’ships

KARACHI: Pakistan on Sunday lifted bronze medal in the World Ju-Jitsu Championships for Juniors and Aspirants being held at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistani pair of Hamza Farooq and Tanveer Ahmed did so in the men’s duo show Under-21 contest of the event in which the nation was featuring for the first time.“It’s a great achievement on debut,” Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation’s (PJJF) President Khalil Ahmed told The News from Abu Dhabi after Pakistan’s duo splendid finish at the victory podium.

“Due to lack of finances we could only field three fighters. Farhan Durrani of Navy featured in newaza and fighting but failed to grab any medal,” Khalil conceded. Hamza and Tanveer belong to Lahore. Greece got gold while Poland finished with a silver medal.

Khalil said that Pakistan never returned from any international event without a medal, adding, the country had great potential in the discipline. To a query he said that no one backed the federation for the tour. “We had done everything by ourselves,” he was quick to add. However he said that they would now try to convince Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to back ju-jitsu.Khalil also informed that PJJF was also going to bring in a Brazilian coach to prepare the lot for the Asian Games slated to be held in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2.

“Hiring process is continuing. And we are confident to get the services of a Brazilian coach in near future. We want the Brazilian because the Asian Games would be held in Brazilian style and hiring the services of a coach from that country would be of great benefit for us,” Khalil said. He said that the preparations for the Asian Games had already been started.