Asian Games results: Historic gold medals for Qatar and Jordan in padel and taekwondo

Qatar won the first men's gold medal in the history of padel at the Asian Games, after the two young brothers, Mishari and Rashid Nawaf, led it to the precious metal, after they crushed the Malaysians, Christian Shin and Yunus Aidan, 6-3, 6-1, in the Japan Asian Games on Saturday.

Qatar entered the final scene of the padel competitions, after defeating the Iranian Nawaf brothers Hami Golestan and Arya Roghani in two sets, 6-4 and 6-2.

With this victory, Qatar raised its tally at the Asiad Nations to five gold medals, 6 silver medals, and 5 bronze medals.

Qatari Tariq Zainal, President of the Asian Padel Federation, said in television statements: “The hope is in Mishari and Rashid. This is a beginning, not an end. We have a strong team, and we hope to compete in the Islamic Solidarity Tournament and the World Championship.”

For women, Japan won gold with Saki Tsukamoto and Kai Tokumoto defeating Indonesians Vaduna Kusumawati and Vitriani Sabatini 6-3, 6-4.

Spanish coach Pablo Franco arrived in Tunisia on Saturday morning in preparation for assuming his duties as technical director of the first football team of the Tunisian club Esperance.

The new coach was received at Tunis-Carthage International Airport by the player and responsible for the first team, Khalil Chamam.

Franco (44 years old) is expected to take over his duties later today, succeeding Romanian coach Laurenzio Regicamp, after completing the contract procedures with the Esperance administration.

Franco Pablo previously coached Tanzania's Simba Club and Morocco's Fes Club in Africa, with whom he won the Moroccan League title last season.

Esperance occupies second place in the Tunisian League standings, four rounds after its start, with nine points and a goal difference from leaders Club Africain, which is missing a postponed match.

The team begins its CAF Champions League campaign in the second preliminary round by meeting the Libyan club Al-Suwaihli in mid-October.

Jordanian Fadia Kherfan won the taekwondo gold medal for the under-57 kg category at the Asian Games in Japan, on Saturday, after defeating Chinese Zhang Zhuling 2-1 (0-2, 4-2, 6-3), after winning the Women's World Open Championship last August in China.

Sheep brought Jordan the first gold medal in taekwondo after four bronze medals, raising her country’s tally to two gold medals, three silver medals, and six bronze medals.

Kharfan confirmed her happiness with the medal in her interview with the beIN Sports network, explaining that her eyes are “on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and that she is going directly to Paris” to compete in the Grand Prix competitions, awaiting her return and a great reception in Jordan, similar to the one she received after the world championship.

Her coach, Fares Al-Assaf, said that Fadia Kherfan has been a talent since childhood: “She has shined since 2019 with the Cubs teams.”

Kherfan owes this achievement to her late father, as she previously expressed, when she won her world title: “My father is credited for everything.”

She added to the International Federation website: “I went through a phase where I wanted to leave Taekwondo, and he told me that I would not stop and that I would become a champion.” “Every medal I will achieve is also thanks to him.”

She continued: “I learned that I am the best in my weight and I am not afraid of anyone, and if I work hard, I can overcome everyone, and this medal proved to me that I am truly capable, no matter the competition or competition.”

Jordanian Zaid Mustafa, silver medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, won bronze in the under-68 kg category, and his compatriot Muhammad Al-Adarbeh won bronze in the over-80 kg category.

Jordan continued to shine in this sport, after Saleh Al-Sharbati and Jaafar Al-Daoud won two bronze medals, at 80 and 58 kg, respectively, on Friday.