HARIPUR: The annual belt promotion test of karate players was held at Shaheen Gymnastic and Martial Arts Academy here on Tuesday.

The girl and boy players belonging to different weight categories took part in the test and exhibited their skills to earn appreciation from the audience.

On this occasion, the players presented stick moving and fight, karate fight and brick breaking skills as part of competition.

According to results of the belt awarding test in the senior category, Mohammad Waleed Tanoli and Khushbakht Irsa clinched first position by securing 107 points, Syed Habibur Rehman stood second with 104 points while Zeeshan Bhati got 101 points and grabbed third position.

In the test of junior belt award category, Saifur Rehman bagged 99 points and won the first position while Absar Ahmed Khan got second position with 98 points while Areeba Jamshed and Arib Amin both won third position with 96 equal points.

International karate champion and chief judge of the event Riaz Khan Shaheen told the audience that more than six girls and boys from Haripur were selected for the international gymnastic and karate competitions scheduled for next two months abroad.

He said that the karate and gymnastic players from the district had a great potential to win the international events if provided with government support. He lamented that the karate and gymnastic sports could hardly draw the attention of government.

International karate champion Syed Ahmed Shakir and Dr Syed Abdullah addressed the event and gave away prizes to winners.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2023