‘Confident’ Saadi to feature in Karate I Premier League

KARACHI: After having finished seventh out of 100 fighters in the Paris Open last month, Pakistan’s ace karateka Saadi Abbas en route towards his Olympics berth will feature in the Karate I Premier League which begins in Dubai on Friday (today).

“Yes, I will feature in the event starting from tomorrow,” the former Asian champion told ‘The News’ from Dubai on Thursday.“My first fight will be against a fighter from Fiji tomorrow. I am confident I will live up to the expectations,” the former two-time Commonwealth Championship gold medallist said.

Saadi will face Fiji Islands’ Tamanigaunatawamudu Tevita in his -75kg men’s kumite first round fight.Pakistan’s experienced referee Ijaz-ul-Haq will also supervise fights in the event.

Saadi is one of the leading athletes of Pakistan as the Dubai-based fighter has won medals in his illustrious career in almost every major international event.Saadi said that Karate I Premier League always had been tough event.

“I am good but in this championship leading 67 athletes from around the world feature. You know we have fought with each other many times and so everyone knows the weak points of their opponents. The games always are tough and those who will fight well in three minutes will conquer,” Saadi said.Karachi-born fighter has also to his credit a gold medal in the US Open.

As karate has been included in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Saadi wants to make a cut for the world’s prestigious spectacle.“He is our sole hope for Olympics. These days our eyes are on Saadi,” Pakistan Karate Federation (PKF) chairman Mohammad Jehangir told ‘The News’ from Lahore on Thursday.

Jehangir said that from Paris Open last month the Olympic journey started, adding, the marathon would continue till June 2020.“It’s a long journey. It is too early to tell what will happen. Saadi is making his best effort and let’s hope for the best,” Jehangir said.

In Paris Open last month, Saadi defeated the fighter from Netherlands 5-3 in his first round. In the next round, he lost to four-time world champion Rafael Aghayev of Azerbaijan 7-2. For bronze medal contest, Saadi beat a Croatian 3-2 before losing to a fighter from Japan 5-1 to finish seventh overall.

Saadi, who needs a huge financial input, is also lucky to have got scholarship of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which will cover some of his events in the qualifiers. The more he appears in the qualifiers, the more it will enhance his points and chance of an Olympic seat.

Indus Motors Company (IMC) in a press release on Wednesday also conceded that the company will financially back Saadi in his Olympic bid.This correspondent learnt that the government is not in a position to support the athletes who aim to fight for the 2020 Olympics seats.

The qualifying criteria of martial arts is always tough and the process almost lasts for one and a half year.For making efforts to earn the 2016 Rio Olympics berth, Japan-based judoka Shah Hussain had to play qualifiers for almost two years. And it was only then he managed an Olympic berth on the basis of continental quota.“It’s a long journey and I don’t know what will happen,” Saadi said.Saadi has been the only unfortunate fighter in Pakistan’s history who has never been encouraged by the state despite having won several key medals in international circuit over the last decade.Staying in Dubai with his brother, Saadi was also seen undergoing training with the UAE national team besides having played for Dubai clubs for few years.