Shahida, Mohammad Awais win karate gold medals at SAG

KARACHI: Shahida and Mohammad Awais on Monday won gold medals in karate competitions of the 13th South Asian Games being held in Nepal.

Meanwhile, Pakistan also claimed three silver and four bronze in karate slots which began at Karate Hall at Satdobato, Kathmandu, on Monday. When this report was filed, Pakistan had claimed overall two gold, three silver and ten bronze medals, if medals Pakistan got in badminton and taekwondo are included.

Shahida lifted the first gold for Pakistan in individual kata while Awais snared gold in minus 85 kilogramme competitions.

Niamatullah won silver in individual kata, Pakistan’s women karate team, carrying Shahida, Nargis and Gulnaz, captured silver in team kata and Baz Mohammad got silver in 84 kilogramme.

Pakistan, carrying Naseer Ahmed, Nouman Ahmed and Niamatullah, took bronze in men’s team kata, Murad Khan claimed bronze in 55 kilogramme, Iqra Anwar captured bronze in 45 kilogramme, and Sabira Gul got bronze in 50 kilogramme.

In badminton event, being held in Pokhara, Pakistan’s men and women teams fell to India in the semi-finals and had to be content with bronze medals. “The Indians were very tough,” a Pakistani top shuttler told ‘The News’.

In taekwondo, Pakistan got one silver and four bronze medals. Mahrunnisa and Shehbaz Ahmed got silver in pair poomsae. Mehrunnisa claimed bronze in individual poomsae. In team poomsae, Pakistan, featuring Shehbaz, Mumtaz and Mohammad Anas, got bronze. Mehrunnisa, Iqra and Asifa picked bronze in team event. Mumtaz and Asifa claimed bronze in pair.

Pakistan is featuring in 20 disciplines. The event will conclude on December 10. In the last SAG held in India in 2016, Pakistan finished third after India and Sri Lanka by claiming just 12 gold medals.