The Karachi Taekwondo Academy players raised the Pakistani flags high in the senior, junior, and cadet categories in the tournament, which featured more than 2000 athletes from 25 countries. They won two gold medals and two silver medals.
Other gold medallists include Syed Hadi Jafri in 45 kg event, while Tayiba Ashraf clinched three gold medals in virtual fight, pair poomsae, and 49 kg fight, and Sumbul Fatima bagged two gold medals and a silver in different events.
While talking to The Express Tribune the athletes listed their aspirations, but the most fascinating feature was, at least three of them want to pursue careers in sports but also in medical professions.
Ameer Hamza, Gold medal in 51 KG Junior weight category 15 to 17 years
Hamza took the gold medal in the 51 kg juniors event, which had players aged between 15 and 17 competing for the top prize.
“I am so happy to be here, and win this title, it is the hard work and the dedication of my coach that helped me win this gold medal,” he told The Express Tribune with excitement in his voice.
“I had a tough event, I fought two opponents and both of them were very good. ”
Hamza had previously competed in Fujera Open as well, but he did not win in 2019 juniors event.
“I wasn’t very good at the sport then, but I know I am improving, and this result shows it,” said the 15-year-old, who aims to become a doctor when he grows up.
“I want to carry on with taekwondo, but I also want to study to become a doctor. I am hoping to be able to find success in both of these things.”
Ameer is also the son of the Karachi Taekwondo Academy owner and coach Syed Rehman Shah, who has dedicated his life to training children in the Korean martial arts.
His other student, Umar, on the other hand, won the all-important final fight to clinch the senior title in 64 kg event.
He competed with a Chinese athlete and he deemed the event to be challenging but rewarding, “Chinese athletes are usually very tough to beat and they have great technique. I makes the victory sweeter to know I defeated a good competitor,” explained the 20-year-old D Pharmacy student.
Umar has been a persevering athlete, he represented Pakistan in the Qatar Open 2023 and, have been on the quest of making the country proud on the mat.
Despite a tough schedule at Hamdard University, where he is pursuing a degree, Umar makes time for the taekwondo practice and trains at least one to two hours everyday throughout the year.
However, he seldom gets any support from the university administration when it comes to highlighting his achievements as national athlete.
“Mostly my fellow students and teachers are aware that I represent Pakistan internationally, even the Vice Chancellor of my university knows it, but they tend to ignore this, and of course it can affect me, the lack of support feels cold and cruel at times. We are here on our own,” said Umar.
Similarly, Shamil, who took silver medal in the 49 kg cadet weight category, believes that his training at the Karachi Academy helped keep his passion for taekwondo grow strong and attributes the balance between studies and training time to be essential for the quality of his game.
“I have been training for four years, my family is very supportive of me playing in international events,,” said Shamil, who was on call with his mother before the interview.
“I think the tournament was tough because there were so many well-trained athletes here.
“While I was in the fight I was only thinking about what I can do to make sure that I end this with a medal.
“My mind was only focused on that, so I am glad I managed a silver.”
He said that his ultimate goal in life is to do what he loves: compete in taekwondo events, and become a male nurse.
“I want to become a nurse, my whole family is in this profession, so I also want to continue the tradition.
“The goal for me is to get the degree in nursing and get black belt in taekwondo,” concluded the 14-year-old.
Road to Nilai was paved with challenges
Karachi Taekwondo Academy owner and coach Syed Rahman Shah, who has also been a sports trainer at reputable schools including Habib Public, added that the greatest challenge is to find sponsors and support from the government when it comes to taking the athletes to international events.
“The way e have come to Malaysia is nothing short of a miracle, I can say that it was only with the help of Allah, the parents chipped in, and we asked people for help, but there is no institutional help of talented athletes.
“But winning these medals after going through so much only ensures that we are on the right path, and my students are proving their mettle on the international stage,” said Rahman,
“We need support from the Pakistan Teakwondo Federation as well, because at the end of the day every athlete wants to compete at the highest level, and to achieve that there needs to be an effective system in place that can treat our players with respect and dignity,” said Rahman.