Pakistan’s 12-year-old wins ‘Big’ in Taekwondo

In a remarkable achievement, 12-year-old Pakistani athlete Ayesha Ayaz secured three medals at the International Taekwondo Championship held in Bangkok, Thailand. Competing in the Under-12 category and weighing 42kg, Ayesha impressed the audience with her exceptional skills, defeating opponents from three different countries. She won one silver and two bronze medals, showcasing her talent on an international platform that featured over 2,200 athletes from 40 nations.

This adds to Ayesha’s previous success, including a gold medal at the Al-Fujria International event in Dubai earlier this year. In total, she has now accumulated seven medals at the international level. Notably, Ayesha was the sole representative from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to participate in the championship in Thailand.

Meanwhile, Pakistan recently announced a fourteen-member taekwondo team to represent the country in the upcoming 19th Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China, starting from September 23. The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) will sponsor ten athletes and officials, while the Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF) will cover the travel expenses of the remaining four members. Among the team, two officials will self-fund their trips. The PSB sponsorship includes coaching staff and athletes, aiming to provide necessary support for a successful performance at the Asian Games.

With the substantial support from the Ministry and PSB in terms of financial aid and training camps, there is hope that the team will make a strong impression at the 19th Asian Games. The Taekwondo event at the Games will feature 13 gold medals up for grabs, and despite the historical absence of a medal for Pakistan in the Asian Games taekwondo competition, the team aspires to change that record and achieve a notable outcome. The competition will take place at the Lin’an Gymnasium in the Lin’an District.