ISLAMABAD, Apr 12: Pakistan’s 11-member delegation opened with a string of gold and silver medals on the first day of the South Asian Ju-Jitsu Championship 2026, outperforming expectations against far larger national squads at the Digana Sports Complex, Sri Lanka, according to information received here.
The championship, which features athletes from across the South Asian region competing in Duo System, Fighting, and Ne-Waza disciplines, drew contingents of varying sizes. India, for instance, fielded more than 80 athletes, making Pakistan’s medal haul all the more striking by comparison.
In the Duo Men/Classic category, Muhammad Ali Rashid and Muhammad Yousuf Ali took gold, while Rashid paired with Isra Waseem to claim another gold in the Duo Mixed event. Kainat Arif and Waseem added silver in the Duo category,
and Reshaal Khan and Muhammad Abdullah Ali secured silver in a second Duo Mixed event.
Pakistani athletes carried the momentum into individual competition. Kainat Arif won gold in the
Fighting/Ne-Waza -57 kg category, while Vishal earned silver in the -48 kg class.
Pakistan also made its mark in the youth divisions. In the Under-16 and Under-18 Duo team events, Zunaira
Zulfiqar and Sundus Ali claimed gold, and Sundus Ali paired with M. Abdullah Ali for silver.
Khalil Ahmed Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation, praised the squad’s opening-day showing.
“Achieving such results with limited resources makes this performance even more commendable,” Khan said,
citing the athletes’ dedication, discipline and preparation.
Secretary General and team leader Tariq Ali, who is accompanying the delegation in Sri Lanka, said he was
encouraged by what he had seen.
“Our athletes have shown remarkable commitment and fighting spirit,” he said. “We are optimistic that the second
day results will be even stronger, and the team will continue to bring further success for Pakistan.”
The championship continues over the coming days, with elite athletes from across South Asia competing in one
of the region’s most prominent martial arts tournaments.
