Amman, Sept. 23 (Petra) — Karate champion Mohammad Al-Jafari has set
his sights on maintaining the world No. 1 ranking and winning more
international titles after claiming gold in the men’s under-84kg
competition at the Nagoya Asian Games.

The victory marked the culmination of a four-year journey for
Al-Jafari, who won bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games before
returning to the continental competition determined to reach the top
of the podium.

Al-Jafari told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that winning Asian
Games gold had been a goal since his Hangzhou appearance, describing
the intervening years as a sustained period of training and
preparation.

He said the Nagoya title represents another step in his career rather
than its ultimate goal, with his focus now turning to maintaining his
position at the top of the world rankings and securing further gold
medals for Jordan.

“Reaching the top requires continuing to work and train and being
ready for the competitions ahead,” he said.

Al-Jafari said preparations for the Nagoya Games involved an
intensive training program, given the stature of the Asian Games and
the level of competition involved.

He noted that the Asian Games are the world’s second-largest
multi-sport event after the Olympic Games and attract extensive
regional and international media attention.

Al-Jafari entered the competition aiming to become the first
Jordanian male karate athlete to win an Asian Games medal. Jordan’s
first Asian Games karate gold was secured by Manar Shaaban at the
2010 Guangzhou Games.

His path to gold in Nagoya began with a 4-1 quarterfinal victory over
Chinese Taipei’s Chung Ming-Yu.

Al-Jafari then delivered an 8-0 win over India’s Chetan Bhat in the
semifinals to advance to the title bout.

In the final, he defeated Iran’s Ali Asghar Asiabari 9-1 to secure
the under-84kg gold medal, completing his progression from the bronze
medal he won four years earlier in Hangzhou to the Asian Games title.

With the continental gold secured, Al-Jafari said his ambitions now
extend to preserving his place at the top of the world rankings and
continuing to deliver international medals for Jordan.

//Petra// RZ