KARACHI: The Pakistani taekwondo team achieved a historic milestone at the 6th Asian Open (Kyorugi) Taekwondo Championship held in Indonesia, capturing the championship title with a remarkable haul of three gold, three silver, and two bronze medals. This accomplishment marks the first time that both male and female athletes from Pakistan have excelled at an international taekwondo event abroad.
In a highly competitive tournament, Pakistan topped the medal table, with Kazakhstan finishing in second place and Malaysia securing third. The championship, which took place from October 14 to 17, highlighted the growing prowess of Pakistani athletes on the Asian sports scene.
Haroon Khan delivered an outstanding performance in the -58kg category, defeating his teammate Abubakar to secure gold. Khan’s victories in the final, with scores of 6-4 and 9-7, showcased his exceptional skills and determination.
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In the women’s -73kg final, Manisha Ali also achieved victory, earning gold by overcoming Indonesia’s Paramata Sari with scores of 4-1 and 8-2.
Earlier in the competition, Shahzaib shone in the -54kg category, clinching another gold medal for Pakistan.
The medal tally for the Pakistani team included:
Gold: Shahzaib (-54 kg), Haroon Khan (-58 kg), Manisha Ali (-73 kg)
Silver: Abubakar (-58 kg), Ikhtasham Ul Haq (-87 kg), Hamza Omer Saeed (+87 kg)
Bronze: Mazhar Abbas (-80 kg), Malia Ali (-73 kg)
The team was honored with the title of “Best Team,” while Shahzaib was recognized as the “Best Athlete” of the championship. Yousaf Karami was also acknowledged as the “Best Coach.” This event not only showcased the talent of Pakistani athletes but also set a new benchmark for future competitions.
