Friday’s cover: UAE pack a double punch at Asian Games

Almaazmi defeated Hong Kong’s Cheng Tsz Man Chris in the men’s karate bronze medal match in Incheon, South Korea on Thursday while Shaker Ali Hassan finished third in the Men’s Masters bowling competition.

The National’s Sport cover for the Friday, October 3 issue, features UAE’s Marwan Al Mazmi, who secured a bronze medal in karate at the Asian Games on Thursday.

The UAE’s Asian Games medal tally actually doubled in size with more two bronze medals added in Incheon, South Korea.

In karate, Al Mazmi took bronze in the individual kata, though his camp was disappointed he did not beat Indonesia’s Fidelys Lolobua and earn a chance to fight for gold.

“I think we were robbed of the chance to contest for the gold medal. I have complained to the chief official, but there is no provision for lodging formal protests in kata competition,” said coach Mohammed Ibrahim Naderbeigi, who was unhappy with the judging.

Later, in the men’s masters bowling, Shaker Ali Hassan took a second bronze medal to end the day.

Bowling in a competition that consisted of the 16 best bowlers at the end of six days, Hassan was joined by Hussain Al Suwaidi in the top six.

Hassan kept his composure to finish in third place overall and earn the right to contest for a medal. He was first up against Hong Kong’s Wu Siu Hong, who went on to win and advance for a showdown with home favourite Park Jong-woo.

“I tried my best to get a medal. As a team we have believed in ourselves and backed each other,” Hassan said.

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