ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Karate Federation (PKF) is pinning its hopes on Saadi Abbas for clinching gold medal at the forthcoming Asian Games in Incheon.

PKF president Mohammad Jaha­ngir said Saadi Abbas, who recently won a gold medal at the US open Karate Championship in the 67kg category event at Las Vegas, possessed full potential to win gold in the Asian Games starting on Sept 19.

“We strongly hope that Saadi will triumph in Incheon because he is the only player from South Asia who holds the honour of being gold medallists in the Asian Karate Championship,” said Jahangir.

Currently, Saadi is in Turkey, where is training for playing premier league. He will reach Pakistan by next week before leaving for Incheon.

He also won gold medals at the 2010 and 2013 Commonwealth Karate Championships in South Africa and Canada, respectively. In addition to this, Saad clinched gold at the 11th Asian Karate Championship held in China.

“Keeping Saadi’s records in view, I can say that he will come back unbeaten. However, luck also matters in mega events,” he said, adding that five other karatekas —Mohammad Kashif, Baaz Mohammad, Mohammad Ramzan, Kalsoom Hazara and Benish Akbar — will also feature at the Games.

To a question, he said that these five players also had the quality of making upsets at the Incheon extravaganza.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2014