Gold for hosts Jordan at Asian Karate Championships

AMMAN — It was a glorious start to the 15th AKF Senior Karate Championships for host nation Jordan who won two gold medals and a silver medal on the opening day, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

First to stamp his name on the event, which is hosting 300 fighters from 29 countries, 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.