ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Shahzaib Khan overcame Riad Hamdi of Saudi Arabia in the -54kg final of the COMBAXX Asian Open Taekwondo Championship here at the Pakistan Sports Complex on Friday.

Competitions in different weight categories were held on the second day of the Kyorugi event of the championship.

While Shahzaib showed brilliant performance to win the gold, his compatriots Tanzeel Hasnat and Abubakr Siddique took bronze and fourth spot, respectively.

In the men’s -63kg final, Mohsin Raza of Afghanistan beat Saudi Arabia’s Muhammad Zakariya. Pakistan’s Haroon Khan won bronze while his compatriot Nouman Khan came fourth.

In the men’s +87 kg final, Afghanistan’s Ali Akber Amiri defeated Hamza Umar Saeed of Pakistan in a thrilling contest. Egypt’s Muhammad Ali won bronze and Kuwait’s Ali Hameed Hassan ended fourth.

On the women’s side, Kazakhstan’s Nargiza Koishybekova won the -46kg gold defeating compatriot Aidana Yedilbayeva in the decider.

In the women’s -53kg final, Iran’s Nahid Kiyani defeated Mobina Nimatzadeh, also of Iran. Pakistan’s Rafia Abdul Samad secured bronze and Dunia Ali Abutalib of Saudi Arabia earned fourth position.

Kazakhstan’s Nuray Khussainova overcame Britain’s Erin Shaw in the -67kg final. Maleeha Ali of Pakistan won bronze while Kazakhstan’s Zhadyra Khairullina bagged fourth spot.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2023