Pakistan’s Shahzeb Khan made history by winning the gold medal in the -54 kg weight category at the Asia Open Khyurogi Taekwondo Championship, defeating Calamba from the Philippines in a thrilling final.
Shahzeb’s victory marks a significant achievement for Pakistan, securing the country’s first gold medal in the event. The final match was fiercely contested.
In the first round, Calamba took an early lead, scoring 11 points against Shahzeb’s six.
However, Shahzeb bounced back with an outstanding performance in the second round, winning 10-3.
He maintained his momentum in the third round, dominating the scoreboard with an 18-0 victory, sealing the win and earning gold for Pakistan.
Before reaching the final, Shahzeb faced a tough challenge in the semi-final against Indonesia’s Hidayat Tomakaka.
The two athletes engaged in a close contest, with Shahzeb winning the first round 12-14. In the second round, he equalized with a 16-14 win and then convincingly took the third round 22-0, securing his spot in the final.
In another weight category, Pakistan’s Hamza Saeed competed in the +87 kg final but fell short against Kazakhstan’s Kablan. Hamza showed resilience but ultimately lost by 5-1 and 4-4, earning a silver medal for Pakistan.
Following the event, Pakistan Olympic Association President Syed Abid Qadri, Secretary General Khalid Mahmood, Special Olympics Pakistan Chairperson Ronak Lakhani, and Pakistan Taekwondo Federation President Col Waseem Janjua, along with CEO Omar Saeed, extended their congratulations to Shahzeb Khan for his gold medal and Hamza Saeed for his silver.
This victory comes on the heels of Shahzeb’s previous success earlier this year, when he won a silver medal at the 33rd Fajr Open in Tehran, Iran. His consistent performances demonstrate his dedication and promise as a rising star in the sport of taekwondo, bringing pride to Pakistan on the international stage.