Shahzaib Rind gets long-overdue reward as PM acts after complaint

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met Khair Muhammad, the father of mixed martial arts champion Shahzaib Rind, and handed over a cheque of Rs5 million, fulfilling a long-standing commitment made to the athlete.

During the meeting in Islamabad, the prime minister extended his best wishes for Rind’s upcoming bouts and commended his accomplishments on the international stage.

The development came just days after Shahzaib publicly criticised the federal government for failing to honour commitments made to him following his global victories.

In a now deleted post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Rind revealed that he was promised Rs5 million in cash and Rs80 million for training support after a major win — promises he said were never honoured. Despite repeated efforts to contact the PM’s team over the last 1.5 years, he said he received no response.

However, he acknowledged continued support from individuals like President Asif Ali Zardari, Balochistan CM Sarfaraz Bugti, and sponsor DHA Quetta, who he said stood by him throughout his journey.

Responding to the controversy, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar issued an official apology on Saturday, acknowledging a miscommunication and calling the delay unjustified.

“Sportsmen like you are our real heroes,” Tarar wrote on X (formerly Twitter), assuring the prime minister had taken serious notice and instructed immediate resolution, adding that such oversights “must never happen in the future.”

Shahzaib responded with appreciation, writing: “Thank you for your kind message and acknowledgment. I truly appreciate the prime minister’s attention to this matter and his commitment to supporting athletes like myself.”

Shahzaib Rind, a fighter from Balochistan, made history by winning the Karate Combat KC-49 Light Heavyweight Championship in Singapore in 2024, defeating Brazil’s Luiz Victor Rocha.

He remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and became the first Pakistani to win a major global martial arts title.

Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti had awarded Shahzaib Rs100 million and praised him for bringing honour to the country.