Fighting chance for Syafiq to reach Paris in lower weight category

Take that: Syafiq Zuber (left) lands a kick on Indonesia’s Osanando Naufal’s face in the men’s under 80kg final at the Cambodia SEA Games in May.

PETALING JAYA: SEA Games gold medallist Syafiq Zuber will be fighting in his regular below 80kg category in order to give him a better chance to fight for a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics during the Asian qualifying tournament in Taian, China, from March 15-16.

The tactical move was achieved as three of the four medallists at the Hangzhou Asian Games – Park Woo-hyeok of South Korea (gold), Jordan’s Saleh Al Sarabaty (silver) and Iranian Mehran Barkhordari (bronze) – have already secured their Olympic spots and will not compete in the China qualifiers.