GOLD FOR HOSTS JORDAN AT ASIAN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

It was a glorious start to the 15th AKF Senior Karate Championships for host nation Jordan who won two gold medals and a silver on the opening day.

First to stamp his name on the event was Bashar Al Najjar who won gold in the -75kg weight, beating Iran’s Ali Asghar Asiabari, 6-1, in the final.

His teammate, Abdulrahman Al Masatfah, added a second gold for Jordan in the -67kg category by beating Saudi Arabia’s Faed Al Khathami, 4-0, in the final.

Mahmoud Al Sajjan completed a successful start for the hosts by settling for silver in the -84kg weight after losing his final to Japan’s Araga Yurotara, 5-1. The Championships, attended by 300 fighters from 29 countries, were launched by a glittering Opening Ceremony at the Prince Hamzeh Hall in Amman attended by HRH Princess Zaina Al Rashed, Director of Olympic Preparations Programme; Mr. Antonio Espinos, President of the World Karate Federation; Mr Kuang-Huei Chang, President of the Asian Karate Federation; and Moeen Al Fauri, President of the Jordan Karate Federation.