KARACHI: Pakistan’s seven-member taekwondo team reached Amman, Jordan to participate in the World Taekwondo Asia Qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics.

Pakistan Taekwondo Federation president retired Col Raja Wasim Ahmed Janjua, along with Najia Al Rasool and other officials, bid farewell to the national team at Islamabad Airport.

The training session for Pakistani athletes will continue from May 18 to 20. Aneila Ayesha Asfar will compete in (-49 kg) on May 21, whereas Taimoor Saeed (+87 kg), Haroon Khan (-58 kg), and Zoya Sabir will fight on May 22.

The gold and silver medalists in eight different weight categories in the Taekwondo Qualifying round will be eligible to participate in the Olympics.

National gold medallist and Fujairah Open silver medallist Taimoor Saeed said before departure that the team “has prepared well for the event and there will be opportunities to interact with contemporary players and professional coaches from other Asian countries during the competitions, which will prove to be beneficial for us in the future.”

Haroon Khan said that the players “are carrying winning spirit with ourselves and will give the best result to the country.”

The team leader and honorary vice-president of the Pakistan Taekwondo Federation Omar Saeed said the athletes “have made full preparations for the qualifying round and the players are physically and mentally fit and carry the potential to face the best fighters from different nations.

“Our players will give their 100 percent to finish on the victory stand and qualify for the mega event,” he added. “Every fight is important and they will not take any opponent easy. Our coaches have trained the athletes according to new rules and regulations. The players are very enthusiastic and full of national spirit.”

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2021