Altaf Hamid Rao,
MIRPUR (AJK): Mirpur, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, earned the name as Karate Champion after its two rising stars including Usama Arif and Raja Adeel won silver medals while representing Pakistan in 1st All-Asia Full-contact Karate Championship securing first position held in Malaysian city of Kuala Lumpur, it was officially said.
The local 2-member team, led by Black-belt 2-don Raja Adeel and Black Belt Usama Arif, jumped into the championship and won the title, a spokesperson of the winners told this Correspondent here on Tuesday.
A total of 30 countries including Pakistan including AJK participated in the contests – won by Raja Adeel and his comrade Usama Arif who secured the championship qualifying to jump in to the World Full-contact Karate Championship scheduled to be held in Japan next year – 2020 representing Asia being members of the Pakistani team, the spokesperson revealed.
A large number of people from various walks of life including the local karate stars warmly received the players at Mangla Bridge, gateway to this part of the Himalayan Jammu & Kashmir state. They were garlanded by the jubilant crowd receiving the team amidst full-throated Zindabad slogans for Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
The local chief Bashir Ahmed Shagoo and other organizers were also present on this occasion.
Speaking on this occasion Bashir Ahmed Shagoo, Khurram Jehangir Pasha, Taimur Altaf Rao and others lauded the performance of the victorious Pakistani national champion including its stars from Mirpur in the championship and felicitated them for the land slide victory securing the medals. They described the play of the triumphant team marvelous and outstanding.
They assured every possible due assistance to the rising stars of Karate from Mirpur and their colleagues to enable them to continue winning such titles through the best of their abilities and performance in the future contests of the fast-emerging Karate game.
They also assured their fullest support and assistance to encourage the potential of karate youth of all ages in the area.