MMA bid

Shahzaib Rind has become a big star, at least on social media. The mixed martial arts fighter from Quetta was in the spotlight last week with his heroics in Pakistan’s 2-1 triumph against old rivals India in the Karate Combat 45 event in Dubai. And it is not just his exceptional fighting skills that have earned him thousands of fans both at home and abroad. The 25-year-old is a showman who raised many eyebrows by slapping his Indian opponent Rana Singh in a pre-bout event, announcing that he would make short work of him in the arena. He fulfilled the promise by flooring his rival, displaying stunning fighting skills in the process. Soon after winning the must-win fight as the contest was levelled at 1-1 before his bout, Shahzaib carried the flags of both Pakistan and India and declared that: “We are not enemies, we are together. Together we can do anything.”

His exploits in Dubai have created quite a buzz, putting the largely ignored sport of MMA in the limelight in Pakistan. In recent years, MMA has grown considerably all over the world with a strong following in all parts of the globe. But in Pakistan it doesn’t figure anywhere on the priority list of the concerned authorities. That was the reason why Shahzaib complained on his return home that the government doesn’t support MMA fighters. He stressed that with proper support both from the public and private sectors, this sport can flourish in Pakistan. After his headline-making triumph in Dubai, Shahzaib is aiming much higher. He is now eyeing the world title and believes that with proper support he can achieve it. The victory in Dubai in the 3 vs 3 battle against India isn’t Shahzaib’s first at the international level. He has been winning a lot of bouts and is rated highly in the international MMA circles. With his winning spree, Shahzaib has proved that he has loads of talent and dedication. Talented athletes like Shahzaib must get maximum support not just from the government but also from private sponsors. Over the years Pakistan has become a one-sport country with a complete focus on cricket. It is time we gave due importance to other sports like MMA. Otherwise, even gifted athletes like Shahzaib Rind won’t be able to go all the way.