With 20th world ranking, Saadi moves closer to Tokyo Olympics qualification

KARACHI: The country’s leading karateka Saadi Abbas has achieved 20th spot in world ranking and the fighter is confident it will help him to directly qualify for Olympics.

“I have reached 20th spot in the world ranking. It will help me directly qualify for this year’s Tokyo Olympics,” Saadi told ‘The News’ from Dubai on Monday.

Saadi, who holds 23rd spot in Olympic ranking, needs to improve both world and Olympic rankings to book a spot in this year’s Tokyo Olympics. Saadi the other day won two vital fights before falling in the third round to exit the Karate 1-Premier League in Paris.

The Olympics fate of Saadi will be known in April. He will need to finish among top five in Olympics ranking and top two in the world rankings. If he fails to make a cut that way then he will have to appear in the final world qualifying round in May.

He has to appear in four more events and there is a good chance for him to finish among the Olympics hopefuls.