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Published 26 Oct, 2008 12:00am

Ali, Taseen take Pakistan’s tally of medals to four: Bali Beach Games Wrestling

BALI (Indonesia), Oct 25: Pakistan continued its winning ways in the Bali Asian Beach Games wrestling competition, winning a silver and a bronze here on Saturday at the Beach Wrestling Arena, ending the event with four medals, a best-ever performance by the country at the Asia level.

Mohammad Ali won the silver medal in the 75kg category while Mohammad Taseen claimed bronze in the 85kg class on the final day of the event.

Pakistan had earlier won a gold through Ghulam Haider (65kg) and a bronze through Usman Majeed (85kg).

The four-member team put up dazzling performance as each of them claimed a medal.

Pakistan’s last medal winner at Asia was (late) Abdul Majeed Maroowala who fetched a gold in Seoul Asian Games way back in 1986.

Mohammad Ali beat Philippines’ Luis Ansag in opening bout, Japan’s Takahimsa in quarter-finals, Afghanistan’s strong Ahmad Mansoor in semi-finals before losing to South Korea’s Lee Yun Seok in the final.

Lanky Taseen emerged winner with a bleeding forehead as Kyrgyzstan’s Janar Kenjeev had a head to head fight with him as both of them put in much force in the same posture to earn a point.

Kenjeev was the first to take a 1-0 lead by getting hold of Tanseen as the Pakistan wrestler made it 1-1 through a brilliant neck lock and then put him down on the sand after grabbing his opponent from the back.

“It was difficult to beat him but in the end he ran out of stamina whereas I had some energy to make a brave move,” said Taseen.

The Pakistani was beaten by Mongolia’s Angalan Enkh in the opening bout who beat South Korean Hyun Tae Koo in the final to win the gold.

Taseen also defeated Kazakhstan Kendey Janarbez in his next round bout.

Pakistan coach former Olympian Mohammad Anwar praised the performance of the team.

“All of them [Pakistan wrestlers] deserve appreciation as they are medal winners, a feat never accomplished by Pakistan at the Asian level before,” he asserted.—APP

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