ABDUL JABBAR FAISAl
ISLAMABAD (March 28, 2021):-Pakistani girls made another mark in the international event of Ju-Jitsu by winning a gold medal in the World Ju-Jitsu E- Tournament held by the International Ju-Jitsu Federation (JJIF).
According to an official of Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation (PJJF), the event was over populated as first time in the history of Ju-Jitsu 371 teams participated from 31 countries around the world into different categories under duo system competition. Pakistani youngsters namely Isra Waseem and Kainat Arif made the country proud on March 27, finishing with a gold medal at the World Ju-Jitsu E Tournament's Junior category.
According to PJJF’s official, Tariq Ali, who also doubled up as a referee in this said E Tournament, was all praises for the Pakistani debutantes’ excellent performance at the World Ju-Jitsu E Tournament.
Given that Isra and Kainat’s participation at the event was being considered merely symbolic rather than something that could turn out to be more substantial at the World Ju-Jitsu E Tournament due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic and closers of all training centres, Pakistan’s First-place in women Junior category is truly remarkable.
The Gold medal-winning duo maintained a consistently brilliant show throughout the participating teams and 373 players in different categories in the tournament. They had been training in Karachi before the tournament, and that training clearly paid off.
Ali also revealed that the PJJF would be sending junior players in the junior category to more events in the future to prepare them for senior-level tournaments.
“It is crucial to give our youth players that exposure and opportunities to gain more experience so that they can be as confident as the athletes from other countries, this is our future goal,” he said.
Meanwhile, PJJF top administration including its President Khalil Ahmed Khan and General Secretary Waqar Ilyas Khan and Director Referees Kazim Ali couldn’t hide their excitement either at Pakistan’s Gold-medal finish.
General Secretary PJJF Waqar said that Pakistan’s performance at international ju-jitsu events has always been credible, but the sport still suffers from the lack of due resources and financial backing from the government. It is not to be out of place that PSB has not released a single penny to PJJF after 2017 neither annual grant in aid nor any special grant. However, PJJF kept flying Pakistani National Flag wherever its young players participated till today. Ju-Jitsu sports could prove to be a source of medals for Pakistan at major international championships/games if only the authorities concerned made more of an effort to promote this sport in the country.
Despite the financial constraint ju-jitsu federation faces in Pakistan, the PJJF GS revealed that the federation will be trying to hire a foreign coach to train the country’s athletes for the upcoming big events such as Asian Games, Asian Indoor Games & Asian Beach Games in 2022.
He also appreciated to Tariq Ali on his selection in this high rank World Tournament as Technical official as This would not have been possible without the active role of PJJF’s coaches and officials who worked really hard to ensure success he said.
Isra waseem and Kainat Arif exploits prove that Pakistan has amazing sporting talent available, even when it comes to non-traditional sports. This proves that if enough investments are made in the country’s sports infrastructure, Pakistan’s showing up at major international events could improve by leaps and bounds.
The federation’s authorities hoping that Isra and Kainat, as well as other talented Ju-Jitsu athletes in Pakistan continue to make the country proud at the international level and Ministry of IPC/PSB under the leadership of Dr. Fahmida Mirza a visionary Women Leader will get due patronage for all their future events and will continue the story of success and flag raising of Pakistan.
