Riffaq hopes to shine in world contest

PESHAWAR: A karate man, a wrestler, a taekwondo fighter, a jujutsu professional and a mixed martial artist. Several adjectives of such kind are insufficient to describe Riffaq Sarwar, a martial artist, who has become national MMA champion by winning the All Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts League.

Representing the Team Passion Combat Academy of Islamabad, Riffaq won the final Karachi cage fighting event, which was held at Greenwich University Karachi from March 15 to 23 and participated by fighters from all over Pakistan.

Riffaq hails from Mardan district of KP but because his family is settled in Peshawar, he trained in the martial arts in the provincial capital.

Riffaq has become a national champion in the 65kg lightweight category. He now is flexing his muscles for the upcoming International Fight Night, which is likely to be held in August in Karachi and martial artists from different counties including Thailand, India, Bangladesh, and Russia will take part.

Riffaq says he joined a martial arts academy in Peshawar in the year 2008. “However, after I got black belt, I started participation in national level competitions in the year 2012,” he said.

Riffaq initially started training in Wushu kickboxing and Kyukushin karate at Rehmat Martial Arts Academy in Peshawar and also won four gold medals in different All Pakistan Inter-Provincial Wushu Tournaments from time to time. He also won gold in the All Pakistan Inter-University Judo Championship in 2019.

“Next month I am going to participate in the World Inter-University Jujutsu Championship. I am trying and aiming an excellent performance in the international event,” he said.