Pakistan’s Bano wins gold medal at Asian Ju-Jitsu

LAHORE: Pakistan’s Bano Kausar made history by clinching gold in the 48kg Ju-Jitsu Contact event, defeating India’s Richa Sharma in the final of the 9th Asian Ju-Jitsu Championship 2025, held in Amman, Jordan.

Bano’s victory came after an impressive semifinal win against Thailand’s Sugun Nutchayafrom, solidifying her position as one of Pakistan’s top martial artists. Despite financial constraints that saw Pakistan competed with a small contingent of six players (three men and three women) on a self-sponsored basis. The team delivered commendable performances, securing four medals.

Winners: Gold: Bano Kausar (48kg Ju-Jitsu Contact event); Bronze: Kainat Arif & Isra Waseem (Duo Women & Show Women categories); Bronze: M. Ali Rashid & M. Yousaf Ali (Duo Men event).

Notably, Bano Kausar participated in this event for the first time, though she is no stranger to competitive combat sports—having been an Asian MMA champion. The National Federation of Ju-Jitsu (PJJF) has continued its training efforts despite limited resources, with coaches like M. Altaf playing a pivotal role in developing top-tier athletes like Kausar from the ground up.