ISTANBUL,25 Sep (TNS): Pakistani karate champion Saadi Abbas stood fifth in World Karate 1 Series A Karate Championship organised by World Karate Federation from September 23-24 in Istanbul.
A total of 151 athletes from 80 countries participated in his weight category (75 Kg). Karate Series – A is part of qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 ranking.
Saadi defeated Ali Akabari of Iran by 3:0 in the first fight, World Silver Medalist Erman Eltemur of Turky by 2:0 in the second, Noah Bitsch of Germany by 1:0 third and Nikola Malovic of Montenegro by 2:0 in fourth (Quarter final) fight.
Saadi successfully reached quarter-finals and defeated Iran’s star Sajad Hayati by 3:0. But unfortunately after a tough fight with Japan’s Ken Nishimura in the semi-finals Saadi got a fracture in the middle finger of his left hand and lost the fight by 1:0. Nishimura is the current title holder of Karate 1 Series A.
In the bronze medal fight Saadi lost against five-time world champion Rafeal Aghayev of Azerbaijan by 2:0 and secured fifth position in this high stakes match.
A player like Saadi is indeed a pride for our country, said Chairman Pakistan Karate Federation Muhammad Jahangir. Saadi has represented Pakistan at various international forums. He is a two-time Commonwealth Champion, US Open Champion, Asian Gold Medalist (only gold medalist of South-Asian region), South-Asian champion and a silver medalist in fourth Islamic Solidarity Games 2017.
