TANGERANG: Pakistan’s Shahzeb Khan secured a gold medal in the -54kg weight category at the Asian Open Khyurogi Taekwondo Championship by defeating Calamba of the Philippines in a thrilling final.
Shahzeb’s victory was hard-fought, with the first round seeing Calamba take the lead by scoring 11 points to Shahzeb’s six. However, Shahzeb made a stunning comeback in the second round, dominating with a 10-3 win.
The final round showcased Shahzeb’s exceptional skill as he secured an 18-0 victory, clinching Pakistan’s first gold medal in the competition.
Shahzeb advanced to the final after a gripping semi-final against Hidayat Tomakaka of Indonesia. He overcame Tomakaka in three rounds with scores of 12-14, 16-14, and a decisive 22-0 victory.
Meanwhile, in another final, Hamza Saeed of Pakistan earned a silver medal in the +87kg weight category after being narrowly defeated by Kablan of Kazakhstan. The match ended with Kablan winning by 5-1 and 4-4 points.
