Majied to begin medal hunt

UAE karate champion Fakhruddin Abdul Majied will compete today in the karate competitions at the 14th Asian Games.

Fakhruddin will fight in the Kumite 65 kg category which will start at 10 am BT (5 am UAE local time) at the Yangsan College Gymnasium.

Fakhruddin will meet a karateka from Kazakhstan while Khalid Suliman will compete in the kumite 55 kg category against a rival from Brunei. Fakhruddin said he is well prepared according to the training schedule which was put for him by the coach Wahid Hussaini.

"I am well prepared for my first tough game. The draw didn't help me by putting a strong player from Kazakhistan in my first match. If I win in the first match, then I come up against either a Kuwaiti or Philippino fighter. If I advance then I meet Mehdi of Iran who is the top favourite to win the gold medal."

Fakhruddin said that if we compare the draw of the Bangkok Games where he won a silver with the Busan draw we will see Bangkok was not difficult.

"However, despite the standard of my opponent, I will fight in a professional manner as karate is a fighting game. It will be do or die."