ISLAMABAD: A four-member Pakistan squad has left for Japan to compete in the World Judo Championships Senior, taking place in Nippon Budokan, Tokyo from Aug 25 to 31, an official said on Friday.

Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) secretary Mansoor Ahmed told APP on Friday that the national outfit comprised Shah Hussain Shah (-100kg), Mohammad Hasnain (-66kg), Amina Toyda (-57kg) and Humaira (-49kg).

“Shah and Amina are Japan-based. They have been attending regular training sessions in Tokyo along with Japan’s top-class judokas. Both are in good shape and [therefore] we hope for some stunning show from them at the championships,” Mansoor said.

The world championships will also serve as Olympic qualifiers and a total of 860 competitors -- 519 men and 341 women -- from 149 countries will vie in seven different categories with the hope to earn spots in the coveted quadrennial world event.

Mansoor said the PJF had great expectations from Shah and Amina as they had the potential to pose serious challenge to world’s best fighters and earn medals. “If they succeed in winning gold medals it will be a huge achievement because this will see them directly qualifying for the 2020 Olympics. But if they claim silver or bronze, even then their ranking will improve and there will be a chance for them to do well again at some other international events to claim an Olympics spot,” he underlined.

On Hasnain and Humaira, the PJF secretary said both of them were also in good form and were capable of pulling off a surprise. “But we understand that they are at the initial stage of their careers; we have advised them to give their best and don’t take any pressure.”

Meanwhile, Mansoor said PJF president Col Junaid Alam and senior vice-president Masood Ahmed had also flown to Japan to attend the International Judo Conference in Tokyo.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2019