ISLAMABAD: Pakistan karate champion Saadi Abbas claimed fifth position in the World Karate Series A Championship, organised by the World Karate Federation from September 23-24 in Istanbul, Turkey.
A total of 151 athletes from 80 countries participated in his weight category (75kg). The Karate Series A is a part of qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics 2020. In the first fight, Saadi defeated Ali Akabari of Iran 3:0. Saadi downed world silver medallist Erman Eltemur of Turkey 2:0 in the second fight. In the third fight, Saadi defeated Noah Bitsch of Germany 1:0. In the fourth fight (quarterfinal), Saadi beat Nikola Malovic of Montenegro 2:0. Saadi successfully reached quarter-finals and defeated Iran’s star Sajad Hayati 3:0. But unfortunately after a tough fight with Japan’s Ken Nishimura in the semifinals Saadi got a fracture in the middle finger of his left hand and lost the fight 1:0. Nishimura is the current title holder of the Karate Series A.
In the bronze medal fight, Saadi lost against five-time world champion Rafeal Aghayev of Azerbaijan 2:0 and secured fifth position in this high stakes match. “A player like Saadi is indeed a pride for our country,†said Pakistan Karate Federation (PKF) chairman Muhammad Jahangir. Saadi has represented Pakistan at various international forums. He is a two-time Commonwealth champion, US Open champion, Asian gold medallist (only gold medallist of South-Asian region), South-Asian champion and a silver medallist in 4th Islamic Solidarity Games 2017.