Judo Tournament: Shah Hussain and Shahzaib Shah leave for Jikji Cup
Pakistan has immense talent, be it in the field of medicine, singing, acting, engineering or architecture. The only problem arises when the talent has to be polished and refined through proper mentoring and coaching. Semi-trained sportsmen from Pakistan have tried to do their best at the international level and many were successful in achieving their goals because of their immense determination and hard work. This time around, it is the four-member Judo team from Pakistan that has left for Korea last week to partake in the 2010 JIKJI Cup International Junior Judo tournament. The tournament has been sponsored and organised by the Korea Judo Association which allows players below the age of 20 years to participate and prove their mettle.
The team includes Judoka Shah Hussain Shah and Shahzaib Shah along with team manager Masood Ahmad. Shah Hussain is a London-born lad and is now seventeen years of age while Shahzaib is fifteen years old. Shah Hussain would be accompanied by his Japanese Coach Takuji Kawai who is going to stay with him during the tournament.
Shah is the son of former boxing Olympian Shah Hussain, who was able to make his mark at the international level due to his talent a few decades back. He was also successful in winning the World Judo Champion in the year 1992 in addition to several other awards and titles which were bagged by him during his Judo career.
Both Judoka’s are to participate in the event who have received extensive training from Kawai in Japan and now they are well prepared for the event.
Talking to APP, Masood Ahmad, the Secretary General of Pakistan Judo Federation explained that this is a great opportunity for Pakistan as the team comprises of young athletes who are talented and confident. He added that they will not only raise the name for their country but will also gain the much needed international exposure.
Ahmad claimed that the country had a lot of Judo talent which still needs to be discovered. He added that the government and local bodies needed to give more time and energy to capitalize their talent through various means. He suggested that scientific, professional, physical and psychological assistance coupled with various training programs should be carried out across the country to polish the talent.
He felt unhappy at the current situation of sports in the country as he thought that many sports, especially Judo, have badly suffered due to lack of any support from the government. He highlighted that with limited resources and very little grants from the government, the promotion of individual games in Pakistan has suffered quite badly.
He also requested the authorities to extend their support and encouragement by providing more financial and administrative plans for individual sports in Pakistan so that they can bring more medals and titles for the country.
The Judo event this year is welcoming one hundred and sixty four competitors from 25 different countries of the world. The event has been divided into various segments that would include seven men and seven women weight categories.
Pakistan hopes to see some excellent results from the two Judo stars. Their good performances could play an immense role in improving the future of the game in the country.
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