ASHGABAT: Pakistan got a flying start taking one gold medal, one silver and four bronze medals on the opening day of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which is going to be formally kicking off Sunday with 65 participating countries across Asia and over 6000 athletes are taking part in 21 different disciplines.
Pakistan Shahzeb Nawaz and Muhammad Rafique in Duo Show final upset Thailand on a better points and stunning demonstration witnessed by a jamp-packed indoor Complex, reported the APP.
Shahzeb and Muhammad Rafique earlier upset Turkmenistan’s Ahmad Tanriberdiyew and Yousaf Tanriberdyew, the two twin brothers after taking a bye in the opening round.
There were just a five point as Shahzeb and Muhammad Rafique secured 45 points against 44.5 of strong Thailand pair, leaving a difference of point 5. It was certainly a close fight and both Shahzeb Nawaz and Muhammad Rafique in a jubilation thanked Almighty Allah by kissing the floor. It is the first gold medal of the Games for Pakistan.
Pakistan is struggling behind Turkmenistan and Thailand in Jujitsu, a Korean form of Martial Art by taking one silver and three bronze medals. Host Turkmenistan got two gold medals and two silver medal, Thailand with two gold medal and one silver and one bronze medal at second while Tajikistan with two bronze medal at fourth and Vietnam with two bronze
medal at fifth.
The two early Game events Pakistan grabbed two silver and three bronze medals in jujitsu, one bronze medal in traditional wrestling. The international Abu Hurrara and Ammar in duo grabbed silver medals by defeating Tajikistan and tied with Thailand for the silver medal on 80 points each which both teams stretched to golden point and Pakistan pair, Ammar and Abu Hurrara claimed the golden point by grabbing silver medal before losing the gold medal fight to host Turkmenistan.
In Women Duo show classic event Sonia Manzoor and Komal Emmanul grabbed bronze medals with Thailand won the gold medal and Turkmenistan took silver medal respectively.
Pakistan lost to Turkmenistan, Vietnam and defeated arch-rival India to before winning the bronze medal.
Pakistan also reached to the final of the Men Duo Show in Jujitsu and in a position to win gold medal, the first will be of the Games, if they would succeed in beating Thailand but it is certain that Pakistan have a silver medal in the same event either it won or lost.
