An undated image of Pakistani judoka Malaika Noor in motion. — Reporter
KARACHI: Pakistani judoka Malaika Noor has made historical past by successful a silver medal on the Amman Asian Open Judo Championship 2025 — turning into the primary Pakistani lady to safe a medal in any Asian-level judo occasion.
Competing within the 52kg class, the 20-year-old judoka raised the bar with a superb show of talent and willpower all through the event, together with a dominant victory over Jordan’s Raneem Aljazazi within the semi-final.
She got here shut however couldn’t make it within the ultimate, after narrowly shedding to her Saudi opponent and settling for second place.
The athlete has been certainly one of Pakistan’s most promising judokas, courtesy of her constant performances throughout varied competitions. She additionally represented Pakistan on the World Junior Judo Championship in Dushanbe final yr.
“The President of Pakistan Judo Federation, Col. Junaid Alam, along with the entire federation, extended heartfelt appreciation for her historic achievement,” the federation stated in an announcement.
Moreover her, three Pakistani judokas, together with Noor Khan and Muhammad Abbas Khalil, flared till the pre-quarter finals of their respective classes.
18-year-old Noor, who was representing Balochistan and Pakistan Navy within the 60kg, gained his preliminary spherical struggle towards Jordan’s Mohammad Almashaqbeh however suffered defeat towards Burundi’s Raoul Brillant Nganji within the subsequent spherical.
Equally, Abbas additionally had a flying begin to the competitors as he outclassed Jordan’s Khader Alwraikat within the preliminary spherical of the 73kg class, however was later defeated by Lebanon‘s Ghady Moussa in the pre-quarterfinal.
Furthermore, a rising 17-year-old judoka from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who was competing in his first international event, thumped Jordan’s Mohammad Almseden in his opening struggle earlier than shedding to Bahrain’s R. Poltoratskii within the Final 16.
