Incheon, South Korea: Experienced UAE karateka Jaber Al Za’abi has decided to retire from his sport, but only after one last fling at the World Championships in Germany next month.
Bronze medallist at last year’s Asian Championships in Dubai, Al Za’abi bowed out to Vietnam’s Nyugen Minh in the men’s -84kg kumite competition at the Gyeyang Gymnasium on the final day of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games on Saturday.
The bout was a close affair, with Al Za’abi doing well to be tied 3-3 at one stage. But a kick on his rib-cage with 24 seconds remaining tilted the bout in favour of Minh, who went on to win 6-3.
Sulaiman Abdul Kader Al Mulla, the second UAE karateka, was in a better position in the men’s +84kg kumite bout against Iran’s Sajad Ganjzadeh as he took a solid 4-0 lead within 30 seconds of the three-minute bout. But his inexperience showed as Ganjzadeh fought back to draw level and then went on to outscore the UAE fighter 11-4.
Now, with more than two decades of experience of representing the UAE at the highest stage, Al Za’abi feels that it is time to hand the baton on to younger martial artists.
“It has been a long time for me. I feel this is the right time for me to step down and allow the youngsters to take over,” Al Za’abi told Gulf News.
The World Karate Federation’s World Championships will be held in Bremen, Germany, from November 5 to 9, with the world’s best competing for 16 titles.
“I want this to be the high point of my career as a fighter. After that I will see if I want to be an official or a coach to give back something to the sport,” Al Za’abi said.
