Sports Bulletin

PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s martial arts community continues to shine as Ubaidullah Khan, a dedicated and talented athlete from Peshawar, prepares to represent the nation at the prestigious International Kyokushin Kai Karate Championship scheduled for May in Morocco. Known for his discipline and fighting spirit, Ubaidullah has emerged as a promising name in multiple martial arts disciplines, including karate, French kickboxing, and wushu.His recent success at an international championship held in Lahore caught the attention of martial arts enthusiasts across the country. There, he secured a gold medal in French kickboxing (Savate) after defeating a tough Sri Lankan opponent in the final round. Additionally, he bagged a bronze medal in the national Wushu championship, demonstrating his technical versatility and competitive edge.Speaking to the media, Ubaidullah Khan said: “Representing Pakistan on an international stage is a dream come true. I’ve trained tirelessly for this moment. I believe that with the support of my coaches, family, and well-wishers, I can bring home a medal from Morocco, Insha’Allah. My ultimate goal is to raise the green flag high and inspire the next generation of athletes.”He added that his training regimen has been intense and focused, involving a combination of sparring, endurance drills, strength-building exercises, and mental conditioning.“I have left no stone unturned in my preparation. The level of competition at international events is extremely high, but I am ready to face any challenge,” he stated.Ubaidullah’s journey is not just a personal achievement but also a reflection of the growing talent emerging from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in combat sports. Despite limited resources, he has continued to excel due to sheer determination, consistent effort, and the guidance of experienced mentors.His participation in the Morocco championship is expected to boost the morale of many young fighters across Pakistan who look up to athletes like him as role models. The national martial arts fraternity and fans are hopeful that Ubaidullah will make the country proud on the global stage. (PR)

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of Japan here in cooperation with the Japan Karate Association (JKA) of Pakistan organized a Karate Workshop on Tuesday at the Hamidi Hall, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad. This workshop was held under the title of “7th JKA National Karate Camp” and Pakistani players from Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar participated in the training workshop. The Workshop with the presence of Shina Katsutoshi, leading Karate player from Japan and JKA official instructor, 7th Dan (The levels consist of “Kyu (10 to 1)” and “Dan (1 to 10)”) offered opportunities for the participants not only to enhance their skills but also to explore the excitement of Karate as the Japanese martial arts. He was assisted by his co-instructors Kanda Osamu, Tanaka Junko as well as the instructors from JKA Pakistan during the workshop. ITO Takeshi, Charge d’ Affaires, Embassy of Japan in Pakistan together with the Deputy Director General (Technical) Mohammad Shahid Islam from Pakistan Sports Board inaugurated this one-day workshop. ITO witnessed the training sessions and expressed his gratitude to Shina and his team for arriving all the way from Japan to supervise and give valuable tips to the young karate learners in Pakistan.  Later ITO presented certificates to the participants of the training camp. While appreciating the participants for showing their interest in the traditional Japanese martial arts of Karate, ITO said that the purpose of holding this karate training camp was to provide an opportunity to the Pakistani youth to learn “real” karate which requires courtesy as well as mental endurance together with physical strength. He hoped that this training opportunity would prove beneficial for them to further polish their karate skills and also further strength ties between Japan and Pakistan through cooperation in various sectors including sports. ITO also thanked Japan Karate Association of Pakistan for holding Karate Workshop in Pakistan.