Ikhtshamul Haq from Pakistan won a silver medal in the (-87 kg) category on the first day of the 6th Asian Taekwondo Open Championship held in Tangerang, Indonesia.
In a challenging final match against Malaysia’s Zubair MS, Ikhtsham narrowly lost with scores of 5-7 and 7-12. Earlier, he demonstrated his talent in the semi-finals by defeating Indonesia’s Azhar Salim convincingly, with scores of 13-10 and 10-0.
In the men’s -68 kg quarter-finals, Arbaz Khan fought hard against Kazakhstan’s Kassanov Izyat but was ultimately unable to secure a victory. Meanwhile, in the women’s -73 kg category, Maleeha Ali performed well and earned a bronze medal. She reached the semi-finals but lost to Korea’s Shin Jeongeun.
The competition showcased the skill and determination of the Pakistani athletes, with Ikhtshamul Haq’s silver medal highlighting their potential on the international stage. The performances of both Maleeha Ali and Arbaz Khan also reflect the growing talent in Pakistani taekwondo as they compete against top athletes from across Asia.