Nagoya: Team Qatar’s Abdulrahman Mostafa claimed Qatar’s first silver medal at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

Mostafa delivered an impressive performance to secure silver in the men’s under-60kg karate event and earn a place on the podium.

The Team Qatar athlete reached the final after a series of impressive victories yesterday. He defeated Uzbekistan’s Mukhriddin Torakhonov 4–1 in the round of 16 before overcoming Vietnam’s Chu Van Duc 10–4 in the quarter-finals. He continued his fine form in the semi-finals, recording a commanding 7–1 victory over Malaysia’s Hari Sankar.

In the final, experience played a decisive role as Kuwait’s Abdullah Shaaban claimed an 8–0 victory to win gold, while Mostafa took the silver medal.

The silver represents a major achievement for the promising Qatari athlete, who demonstrated his considerable potential and delivered an impressive performance in his Asian Games debut.

Mostafa is considered one of Qatar’s leading karate athletes, having previously won gold in the men’s under-60kg category at the 24th Asian Cadet, Junior and Under-21 Karate Championships.

Karate competition will continue tomorrow, with Team Qatar’s athletes aiming to win more medals and raise the national flag high at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.

Qatar’s Yaman Ashraf will compete in the men’s under-67kg category, beginning his campaign against Bangladesh’s Islam Munirul in the round of 16.

Ashraf will be hoping to secure victory in his opening bout and progress confidently towards medal contention.

Qatar are represented in the karate competition by three athletes: Abdulrahman Mostafa in the men’s under-60kg category, Yaman Ashraf in the under-67kg category and Abdullah Rashad in the under-84kg category.

Eid Ali Al-Muraikhi, President of the Qatar Taekwondo, Judo and Karate Federation, expressed his delight at the achievement of Qatar karate athlete Abdulrahman Mostafa, who won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.

Al-Muraikhi said: “We are extremely pleased with this achievement by our Team Qatar champion, who crowned his campaign with a silver medal at the Asian Games. It is an important achievement for Qatari sport, particularly as it is Qatar’s first medal at these Games, and it is a source of great pride for all of us.”

He added: “We dedicate this medal to our wise leadership and to those responsible for Qatari sport, who continue to support our athletes and provide them with every resource required to achieve success and raise Qatar’s flag at international sporting events.”

He continued: “Our champion delivered an outstanding performance and demonstrated tremendous fighting spirit throughout the competition. We congratulate him and the technical and administrative teams on this achievement. We hope this medal will mark the beginning of further success in the upcoming competitions. We are confident that the best is yet to come, and we will continue working to secure more medals and achievements for Qatari sport.”

Qatar karate athlete Abdulrahman Mostafa expressed his delight after winning silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Games, saying he was proud to raise Qatar’s flag at Aichi–Nagoya 2026.

Mostafa said the achievement would provide important motivation to continue working hard and pursue further success in the coming period.

He said: “I am extremely happy to have won the silver medal. I had hoped to claim gold, but it was not meant to be.”

He continued: “I dedicate this medal to my family, who have stood by me and supported me throughout the past period. I also dedicate it to my coach, the Qatar Karate Federation family and everyone who supported and encouraged me on the journey to this moment.”

Mostafa thanked everyone who supported him, adding: “The competition was strong, and I gave everything I had to achieve the best possible result. I am delighted to have reached the podium and raised Qatar’s flag at this major Asian sporting event.”

He concluded: “This medal is the beginning of further achievements. We hope to win more medals and achieve further success at upcoming championships. I will continue working and training with full determination to make Qatar proud and raise its flag high.”