ISLAMABAD: A three-member squad from Pakistan will participate in the World Taekwondo Championship scheduled to be held from May 10 to 18 in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

Besides Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF) president, two martial art players namely Shahid Akbar and Najia Rasool, will leave for Russia on Friday while Scotland-based athlete Atief Arshad along with his coach Tae Kwang Loh will join them in Russia.

According to PTF president retired Lt Col Waseem Ahmed, Shahid will participate in 63kg category while Najia in 73kg with Atief competing in the 80kg category.

The PTF president said that he would attend the World Taekwondo Federation’s (WTF) general council meeting which will be held on May 11, in Russia on the sidelines of the World Taekwondo Championship.

The main aim of participation in the championship is to get exposure as well as maximum preparation for the Olympic qualification round for the 2016 Olympics, said Waseem who

said if athletes managed performing well in the world championship which is a G-12 event their world ranking would be improved.

Waseem further said that the CTU General Council will also be conducted in Russia after WTF general assembly wherein the PTF will be informed about the final bid of the Commonwealth Taekwondo Championship 2016.

“We have already forwarded bid documents for the conduct of the said event in Pakistan in March/April 2016. Let’s see whether we will manage to win the bid,” he said, adding that if given a chance Pakistan could organise the event in a befitting manner.

He said that the government and Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) have already given assurance to the PTF in this regard.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play