POA to send 20-member contingent to Tokyo Olympics msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) is confident that the Tokyo Olympics will be held as per schedule in July-August in Japan and it is fully engaged with the different organising committees of the games to field a small contingent of around 20 players and officials.
Talking to Dawn, secretary POA Khalid Mahmood said that the POA had completed the accreditation process of the players and officials who have either qualified for the Olympics or have the chances to qualify for it by the end of June.
Khalid said some wrestlers including Bilal and karate player Saadi Abbas still have to compete in the Olympics qualifying round but the POA have also got their accreditation because the last date to get it was April 9. He said the IOC had also asked every member country to appoint a Covid-19 coordinator and the POA has appointed Dr. Asad Abbas for it.
Saadi training in Almaty for France qualifiers
Sports
May 11, 2021
KARACHI: Eying an Olympic seat in the World Qualifiers to be held in France next month, Pakistan’s premier karateka Saadi Abbas has reached Kazakhstan to undergo training at the Akbulak Olympic Centre in Almaty.
“I reached here the other day and am undergoing training in the joint international training camp,” Saadi told ‘The News’ from Almaty on Monday.
Saadi, who has failed to make it to the Olympics through standings, has the final opportunity when he features in the world qualifiers in Paris in the middle of next month. The three top fighters in each weight will make it to the Olympics. This is the first time that karate has been included in the Olympics.
Sports
April 27, 2021
KARACHI: Pakistan’s premier karateka Saadi Abbas will fly out of Dubai for Lisbon, Portugal, on Wednesday (tomorrow) to feature in the Karate-1 Premier League slated to be held from April 30 to May 2 at the Altice Arena Sports Hall.
The event is included in the Olympic qualification process and it is one of the last opportunities for karate athletes to make it to the Olympics by standings.
Saadi currently holds 24th spot in the Olympics rankings and Lisbon’s event will help him to get some more experience ahead of the World Qualifying round which is pencilled in for June 11-13 in Paris from where three fighters from each weight category will make it to the Olympics.
Saadi waiting for financial support for Olympic qualifiers
Sports
April 5, 2021
KARACHI: Eying an Olympics berth, Pakistanâs premier karateka Saadi Abbas is waiting for the support of the government and corporate sector at a time when he is to appear in two most important Olympic qualifying events during the next two months.
âTargeting Olympics seat I have been making effort for the last five years and now I find myself in an awkward situation as I am looking for financial support,â the dejected Saadi told âThe Newsâ from Dubai on Sunday.
âIn the past I could spend on myself from my own pocket but now with family around I cannot spend on my training from my own pocket and am in deep trouble,â the former Asian gold medallist said.