LAHORE: Pakistan claimed second place in the 8th South Asian Senior Judo Championships in Kathmandu by bagging two gold, three silver and as many bronze medals in the individual events, according to the information released by the Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF).

On day one, Pakistan secured two gold and as many silver medals. Olympian Shah Hussain Shah and emerging judoka Qaiser Khan secured one gold medal each, whereas Maryam and Humaira Ashiq won a silver medal each.

Shah defended his title in weight category of +100kg by defeating an Indian rival in the preliminary round, then beating a Nepalese opponent in the semi-final before winning the final against a Sri Lankan judoka.

Qaiser, a talented 17-year-old from Fata, clinched gold in -90kgs category. His opponents were an Indian in preliminary round, a Sri Lankan in the semi-final and a Nepalese in the final.

In women’s event, Maryam clinched silver medal in -52kg by defeating Bangladeshi opponent in the first round, a Nepalese in the semi-final, while she lost to an Indian in the final.

Humaira upstaged a Sri Lankan in the first round, a Bangladeshi in round two a Nepalese in the semi-final but she lost to an Indian in the final.

On the second day, Babar Hussain bagged a silver medal in the -66kg category, while Nadeem Akram (-73kg), Mohammad Abbas (81kgs), and Beenish Khan in (-78kg) earned bronze medals.

In the men’s team event, Pakistan first defeated Bangladesh and Nepal in the semi-final but lost the final against India. While Nadeem Akram and Shah Hussain Shah won their bouts but Qaiser lost it in the final.

In the women’s team event, Pakistan lost to India in the semi-final to earn bronze medal.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2018