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Friday March 29, 2024

Pakistan looks good for Asiad wushu

By Alam Zeb Safi
May 30, 2018

KARACHI: A senior official of Pakistan Wushu Federation (PWF) on Tuesday said that the impressive performance of national fighters in the recently- concluded 1st Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Wushu Kungfu Championship in China shows that the preparation for the 18th Asian Games is quite good.

“Yes, it was a real test for our budding fighters and the way they showed resolve in China’s event by picking two silvers is a clear indication that our homework for the Asian Games is fairly good,” PWF president Malik Iftikhar told ‘The News’ from Lahore.

“The boys needed such a test and I think the way they played in China against tough fighters has brightened our medal chances in the Asian Games,” Malik said.Giving details of the SCO event held in Chongqing from May 17-19 Malik said that both Maaz Khan and Zahoor Ahmed lost their finals to Chinese fighters after a superb showing throughout. “Maaz Khan had qualified for the -75kg final after knocking out an Indian player in the semi-finals. In the final against a Chinese fighter Maaz won the first round. In the second round he got injured which deprived him of claiming a gold,” Malik informed.

Karachi-based Maaz originally belongs to village Batkool located at Battagram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is an experienced fighter. He is a solid medal hope in the Asian Games slated to be held in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2. “And Zahoor Ahmed conceded his -52 kg final to Chinese fighter 19-20 after defeating Indian fighter in the semi-finals. Abdul Latif was the other who lost his quarter-final against Chinese fighter in the -65kg. But Latif played really well,” the PWF chief said.

Both Zahoor and Latif belong to Chaman, a town of Balochistan, bordering Afghanistan’s city Kandahar.Malik said that after a few days of rest these fighters have once again been called up for resuming their camp at Lahore.

It is pertinent to mention here that the PWF has been running the camp for Asian Games preparations at Lahore. The PWF chief Malik Iftikhar is meeting the whole expenses. Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) is yet to give camp to PWF.

The encouraging news for Pakistan is that the country’s seasoned fighter and two-time Asian Games medallist Syed Maratab Ali Shah will also be part of the country’s wushu squad for the Asian Games.

“Yes Maratab is fit and is going for the Asian Games. Our combination this time is much stronger,” Malik conceded.Kasur-born Maratab has to his credit bronze medals in the 2006 Doha Asian Games and 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Ijaz Ahmed had secured silver for Pakistan in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games as Pakistan claimed medals in the last three Asian Games on the trot. The PWF plans to send seven men and five women for the Asian Games. Malik wants his squad to undergo training in Iran. “You know Iran is second best side after China in Asia and if we send our fightersthere for training it would be of immense importance. Iran has strong wushu structure and its club system is fairly good. Our fighters will train solidly there if they get an opportunity,” the PWF official said.

Wushu has been potential sports discipline in which the state has been earning medals at various levels. But it is not getting the sort of support from the state. The wushu hall at the Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad has also been given by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to Amir Khan Boxing Academy. National fighters train at Lahore at the facility of the PWF chief Malik Iftikhar who has provided a cemented platform, covered by a mat, imported from China.

Having contested for the first time in 1990 Beijing Asian Games wuhsu has been part of the Asiad for all the successive biennial spectacles.China leads the medal chart in the Asiad with 53 gold, eight silver and four bronze. Iran follows with five gold, five silver and six bronze while South Korea has to its credit three gold, six silver and nine bronze medals. India and Pakistan trail jointly at the 16th spot as both the nations have grabbed one silver and two bronze medals each.