Sports Bulletin

11-man Sri Lanka players and officials arrive in the Capital City Islamabad AA Report  ISLAMABAD: The 11-man Sri Lanka taekwondo contingent including 5 girls, 4 boys and 2 officials have arrived here to take part in the 4th Combaxx Asian Open International Taekwondo Championship 2022, scheduled to be held from November 1 to 4, 2022 at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex. According to spokesman for Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF), top officials of PTF welcomed the guests on their arrival at Benazir International Airport Islamabad. Visitors were awarded warm welcome, who also garlanded the players and officials. On this occasion, Sri Lankan female athlete Madhushika Madushani said that she was happy to be in Pakistan, which is known in the world for sports dignity, producing world class athletes and sportsmen and sportswomen.  “The country is also known for traditional hospitality and unique aromatic dishes”, she said. Male athlete Tharanga Lamkal said: “We are well prepared for this grand Asian Open International which may prove a milestone in taekwondo history”.  Another visiting Sri Lankan athlete Nimesh Wiranga said: “Since world best players are featuring in the prestigious championship, it will provide them an opportunity to collaborate and interact with them and learn from their experiences”. Names of Sri Lanka Squad: 1. Ruwan Alahakoon (Head of Team) 2. Romesh Rathnasekara (Team Coach) 3. Tharanga Thilakarathna (Athlete) 4. Jewantha Thilakarathna (Athlete) 5. Nimesh Viranga (Athlete) 6. Sachithtra Bandaranayaka (Athlete) 7. Nuwan Jayasinghe (Athlete) 8. Irangani Mahadula (Athlete) 9. Madushika Madushani (Athlete) 10. Shashikala Gunawardhana (Athlete) 11. Nisansala Jayasinghe (Athlete)

faisal ISLAMABAD: The 10-time former national champion and national female taekwondo coach Najia Rasool Khan has said that Pakistani martial art athletes were competent to qualify for the quadrennial mega sports fixture of the world Olympics Games if they would be imparted particular international standard training facilities back-to-back for two years till Paris Olympics 2024. While talking to this reporter at Laiquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex here she further said that the top national taekwondo player Haroon Tareen was so close to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics but unfortunately he lost his bout in a fraction of seconds. “We have brilliant players like Haroon Tareen, Shahzeb Khan and Fatima Khawar and they are capable of bringing laurels for the country in the international competitions, “she added. Najia, 30 from Muzaffargarh further divulged, “We have enough facilities but we need training camps in which players can develop their game skills. Taekwondo is the most admirable martial game in the country and young budding girls and boys are enthusiastic to excel at national and international level but they need appropriate guide-line, coaching and training. We have enough facilities in Pakistan that meet international needs and standards.” To a question she said, “In past, when Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera was Director General of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) he provided enormous occasion to taekwondo players to excel at national and international level by holding the camps for players in a row at the different sports arenas of the country. We need honest efforts to uplift the standard of sports in the country and hoist the national green flag across the world, “she viewed. Former martial art athlete Najia Khan, who won 4 silvers and 3 bronze medals, suggested that the joint efforts of sports federation and sports insinuations along with sponsorship might uplift the standard of sports. “There is no minor sponsorship in all the sports except cricket. A player’s basic requirements are diet, equipment and training, as these facilities need money without sponsorship no one can move ahead at international level. We should take genuine steps to achieve the targets, “she asserted. Responding to another question, she said, “A coach needs to attend international coaching courses to reach the top level. At the present I am a level-II taekwondo coach and have attended six international coaching courses. We can increase the number of coaches by sending them abroad for courses or international representatives may be invited here for coaching lectures. In the ongoing modern area, the best and upgraded coaching facility is most important for the players, “she maintained. It is pertinent to mention here that unmarried Najia Rasool Khan, 30, belongs to Muzaffargarh and she is solitary from her family, who likes sports and is honored with Pakistan's colour too. She started her sports’ career In 2006 and finished in 2021 after that she is working with Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF) as female coach and willing to make another mark in the field of sports as a coach. When she started to participate in sports activities only her mother supported her and the rest of her 8 family members were not willing to see Najia Rasool Khan in sports arenas.  

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: The 4th Asian Open International Taekwondo Championship (Grade 2) will kick off from November 1, 2022 here at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex under the control of Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF). According to an official of PTF, top regional martial arts’ male and female athletes will fight for gold medals in different 26 disciplines. Over 500 536 athletes will compete for gold and glory across as many as 16 male/female) categories in senior and 5 male/female categories in Junior. Senior and young players mostly aged 18 and above and Under-17 are going to participate in the senior/junior male and female Khyurogi event. National and internationally certified eferees will also join other international referees for the smooth conduct of this prestigious championship. As many as 65 foreign and 26 national officials are registered for this mega event while the number of registered foreign athletes from as many as 23 countries stands at 165, adding that the 418 national athletes are to feature in this prestigious championship. Besides 38 international and five national referees are part of this mega championship. President PTF acknowledged and appreciated the wholehearted support provided by the South Asian President Omar Saeed and other sponsors including Combaxx Sports, Korean Embassy, Islamabad and Serena Hotels.  

SPORTS BULLETIN Pokhara (Nepal):-Pakistan’s Shahbaz Ahmed and female Athlete Mehrun Nisa have won the gold medals in the Under-40 Mixed category of Poomsae event of the 1st Mount Everest International Poomsae Open Taekwondo Championship at Pokhara, Nepal on Friday. Shahbaz has also grabbed gold in the Under-40 Male category of the Poomsae event as well while Mehrun Nisa won a silver medal in the Individual female category as well. In the Under-30 category, Pakistan’s Waseem Ahmed & Naila also won the bronze medal. Mohammad Waseem won a bronze medal in Under-30 mixed category while female athlete Flower Zaheer clinched won a bronze in the mixed Under-30 category. Overall Poomsae athletes have collected as many as eight medals in the Poomsae events so far in the ongoing Poomsae Taekwondo Open Championship.

SPORTS BULLETIN Islamabad:-National Taekwondo team has left for Nepal to take part in the 3rd Mount Everest International Open Taekwondo Championship (G-2) scheduled to be held from Sept 21 to October 2 in Pokhara city, Nepal. According to an official of Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF), Green Shirts will participate in the different categories of Khyurogi and Poomsae events of the championship. Team members for the Khyurogi event are Abu Bakar Siddique, Mohammad Arbaz Khan, Mazhar Abbas, Hamza Omar Saeed, Haroon Khan, Shahzaib Khan, Fatimatuz Zahara Khawar, Naqsh Hamdani and Noor Rehman while Poomsae Squad consists of Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammad Waseem Javed, Wajeeh Ul Hassan, Naila, Mehrunnisa and Flower Zaheer. Korean Kukkiwon coach Master Seongoh Choi of Korea is the head coach of the Poomsae squad while former Iranian champion Yousef Karami is the chief coach of the Khyurogi squad. Hawas Khan is accompanying the squad as team Manager while Faisal Nadeem Butt is the trainer. Earlier, the members of the Pakistan squad met with Director General of Pakistan Sports Board Col (retd) Asif Zaman. On the occasion, the DG PSB expressed the hope that the team would do extremely well in Nepal and return home triumphantly. President PTF Lt Col (retd) Waseem Janjua said: “A 15-day training camp was organized in the collaboration with PSB to enhance the skills of the participants and it will continue till the Combaxx Asian Open Championship to be held in Islamabad in November to improve their skills and improve their techniques. PTF’s CEO Omar Saeed said: “Federation left no stone unturned to provide the best training opportunities and facilities to the athletes to prepare for this event and hoped they will fare well and win laurels for the country. The players have worked hard and attained strenuous training sessions ahead of this event and are hundred percent fit both mentally and physically due to which they will be able to make it to the victory podium.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-A 7-member squad including 5 male and 2 female players will represent Pakistan in the Taekwondo event of the upcoming 5th Islamic Solidarity Games 2022, which will be taken place Konya, Turkey. Pakistani athletes will be in action from August 8-12, as the seven-member kyorogi squad includes Mazhar Abbas, Hamza Omar Saeed, Haroon Khan, Shahzaib Khan, Fatima tuz Zahra, Naqsh Hamdani, and Noor Rehman. Yousuf Karimi and Najia Rasool are with the squad as male and female coach respectively. The solidarity games are the biggest sports event in the Muslim world in which athletes from as many as 57 countries participate for top position. According to Lt Col (retd), Raja Wasim Ahmed Janjua, President PTF, Omar Saeed, Chief Exceutive Officer (CEO) of Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF) sponsored all athletes for this international trip. Meanwhile, the PTF officials thanked Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) for the administrative support. Federation’s President Waseem Janjua and the team Head and CEO of Pakistan Taekwondo Federation Omar Saeed hoped that the team will produce notable performance, as the players are well-prepared by undergoing rigorous training and preparatory sessions. It is pertinent to mention here that mainly the renowned and ranked athletes of Muslim Countries from Asia, Africa, and European will be featuring in the 10-day Muslim World's biggest sporting extravaganza.

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI:-Pakistan Army got the top position with 29 gold medals in the 15th Korean Ambassador National Taekwondo Championship 2022 at Shahbaz Shareef Sports Complex, Rawalpindi, as the All Poomsae and Khyrougi events were conducted except 2 x Khyrougi Events which will be conducted during closing ceremony. Pakistan Army retained his supremacy by winning 29 gold, 6 silver and 1 bronze medal and aggregated 859 points. Pakistan WAPDA grabbed second position by winning 2 gold, 19 silver and 11 bronze medals and secured 490 points. However, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) stood at third position by winning 3 gold, 3 silver and 17 bronze with 229 Points.   Under 20 Individual Male Recognized Poomsae Name Department Position Points Ahmed Shahzad Army First 15 Arshad Usman Islamabad Second 10 Ghulam Hussain PAF Third 06 Harris Gilgit Baltistan Fourth 04 Under 20 Individual Female Recognized Poomsae Zeena Sheraz Army First 15 Sher Zaman HEC Second 10 Omama KPK Third 06 Unshira Ghori Sindh Fourth 04 Under 30 Individual Male Recognized Poomsae M Waseem Javed Army First 15 Ali Fahad PAF Second 10 Naseer Gilgit Baltistan Third 06 Rajab Ayub WAPDA Fourth 04 Under 30 Individual Female Recognized Poomsae Flower Zaheer WAPDA First 15  Naqash Hamdani Army Second 10 Shafaq KPK Third 06 MaIRA PAF Fourth 04 Under 30 Individual Male Creative Poomsae Ahsan Ashraf Army First 15 Nabeel Kyani WAPDA Second 10 Muhammad Ismail Punjab Third 06 Abdul Qayyum Malik HEC Fourth 04 Under 30 Individual Female Creative Poomsae Naila Army First 15 Flower Zaheer WAPDA Second 10 Omama KPK Third 06 Zara Sindh Fourth 04 Under 40 Individual Male Recognized Poomsae Shahbaz Army First 15 Umair Saleem WAPDA Second 10 Sufian Punjab Third 06 Muhammad Islam PAF Fourth 04 Under 40 Individual Female Recognized Poomsae Meh urn NIsa Army First 15 Sumera WAPDA Second 10 Shahzia Shirazi PAF Third 06 Under 50 Individual Male Recognized Poomsae Irshad Ali Army First 15 Muhammad Khan WAPDA Second 10 Saeed Kashif PAF Third 06 Under 30 Pair Male Recognized Poomsae Aqdas + Adil Army First 45 Wajeeh ul Hassan+Abdul Qayyum KPK Second 30 Naseer + Jameel Gilgit Baltistan Third 18 Fahad + Ali Hassan PAF Fourth 12 Under 30 Pair Female Recognized Poomsae Naila + Zeena Shiraz Army First 45 Flower Zaheer + Asifa WAPDA Second 30 Laiba + Yamna HEC Third 18 Farishta + Faiza KPK Fourth 12 Under 30 Mix Pair Male / Female Recognized Poomsae Ahmed + Zeena Army First 45 Rajab + Asifa WAPDA Second 30 Anas + Maira PAF Third 18 Ammar + Laraib HEC Fourth 12 Under 30 Mix Pair Creative Male / Female Recognized Poomsae Zeeshan + Naila Army First 45 Nabeel + Maryam WAPDA Second 30 Moazzam + Umama KPK Third 18 Hassan + Zahra Sindh Fourth 12 Over 30 Pair Male Recognized Poomsae Shahbaz + Mudassar Army First 45 M Khan + Umair WAPDA Second 30 Najeeb + Kashif PAF Third 18 Sufyan + Sarmad Punjab Fourth 12 Over 30 Pair Female Recognized Poomsae Mehr un Nisa + Hajra Army First 45 Sumera + Aqsa Shafaq WAPDA Second 30 Over 30 Mix Pair Male / Female Recognized Poomsae Irhasd Ali + Meh run Nisa Army First 45 Muhammad Khan + Sumera WAPDA Second 30 Qaiser + Shahzia PAF Third 18 Under 30 Group Male Recognized Poomsae Aqdas + Shahbaz Gull + Waseem                          

Abdul Jabbar Faisal RAWALPINDI:-Strong Army athletes produced sparking performance by winning 7 gold medals on the opening day of the Korean Ambassador National Taekwondo Championship 2022 that kicked off at Shahbaz Shareef Sports Complex, Rawalpindi on Friday. Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shared each one gold medal after 9 bouts. Teams from Provinces, Departments, Services, Gilgit Baltistan, AJK and Islamabad are participating, as the event is being sponsored by Combaxx Sports and Korean Embassy, Islamabad. SENIOR (KHYROGI CATEGORY) Under 87 Kg ( Middle Weight) Name Department Position Points Idrees Khan PAF First 15 Faizan Junaid Army Second 10 Mohammad Saeed WAPDA Third 06 Mohammad Yasir KPK Fourth 04 Under 80 Kg ( Welter Weight) Mazhar Abbas Army First 15 Mohammad WAPDA Second 10 Syed Farman PAF Third 06 Syed Dawoood Shah KPK Fourth 04 Under 73 Kg (Middle Weight)                        Rahma Army First 15 Mubashira PAF Second 10 Syeda Nida HEC Third 06 Ghulam Fatima WAPDA Fourth 04 Under 67 Kg (Welter Weight) Maleeha Ali HEC First 15 Sara Rehman Army Second 10 Fareen WAPDA Third 06 Iqra Javed KPK Fourth 04 Over 73 Kg Nusrat Bibi Army First 15 Tayyeba WAPDA Second 10 Hira Khan PAF Third 06 Amana AJK Fourth 04                                          SENIOR (POOMSAE CATEGORY) Under 20 Individual Male Recognized Poomsae Name Department Position Points Ahmed Shahzad Army First 15 Arshad Usman Islamabad Second 10 Ghulam Hussain PAF Third 06 Harris Gilgit Baltistan Fourth 04 Under 20 Individual Female Recognized Poomsae Name Department Position Points Zeena Sheraz Army First 15 Sher Zaman HEC Second 10 Omama KPK Third 06 Unshira Ghori Sindh Fourth 04 Under 30 Individual Male Recognized Poomsae M Waseem Javed Army First 15 Ali Fahad PAF Second 10 Naseer Gilgit Baltistan Third 06 Rajab Ayub WAPDA Fourth 04 Under 50 Individual Male Recognized Poomsae Irshad Ali Army First 15 Mohammad Khan WAPDA Second 10 Saad Kashif PAF Third 06            

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD: The 15th Korean Ambassador National Senior Taekwondo Championship will start from Friday (July 22, 2022) at Shahbaz Sharif Sports Complex Rawalpindi under the banner of Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF), top officials announced this in a press conference at a local hotel on Thursday. President PTF, Mohammad Wasim Janjua further told the media persons that males, females and para teams would take part in the 4-day national championship. “Top national athletes from Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber PukhtoonKawa (KPK), Pakistan Army, Air Force (PAF), Navy), Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan will feature in the championship, “he maintained.  “Grand opening ceremony is scheduled to be hosted by HE Kwak Sung-Kyu, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Islamabad and Ehsan-ur-Rehman Mazari, Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC). This event will help enhance and project the soft image of Pakistan and attract a capacity crowd as this is a mega extravaganza of sporting festival of Taekwondo during which talented players will be in action, “he added. “This event will also provide the national players from diverse and far-flung areas of the country to come in contact with each other at a joint platform and interact with each other to have national level exposure and help promote harmony and peace in the society. Our players are highly talented which is evident from their winning a number of medals at international events including the recent Asian Championship held in Korea where Pakistan, “he concluded.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Asian Taekwondo Union (ATU) has allocated two international taekwondo fixtures to Pakistan, which will be taken place in Islamabad in 2022 and 2023 from November 1 to 4 including 4th Combaxx Asian Taekwondo Open Championship and 5th Asian Open Taekwondo Championship from 1 to 4 Nov 2023 in Islamabad Pakistan. According to an official of Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF),Lt Col Raja Wasim Ahmed (R), President PTF has attended recently held Asian General Assembly on 22 June 2022 at Korea. The said meeting was attended by 34 affiliated countries. During this meeting the President gave a presentation for approval of 4th Combaxx Asian Taekwondo Open Championship from 1 to 4 Nov 2022 and 5th Asian Open Taekwondo Championship from 1 to 4 Nov 2023 in Islamabad Pakistan. Now, the federation secretariat office has received the formal approval of said events in Pakistan. This shows the capabilities of Pakistan Taekwondo Federation. This is also a great milestone of the federation struggles for the promotion and development of taekwondo in Pakistan. PTF will try its level best to conduct the said event as per expectations of World Taekwondo and Asian Taekwondo Union.