QUETTA, PAKISTAN – The renowned Pakistani martial arts Icon Shazaib Rind, known as “King ” Rind, has publicly lamented and aired his serious disappointment and frustration over the government’s unfulfilled promises of providing financial assistance, despite exemplary achievements he has brought to the country. This outcry comes a year and a half after the promises made by the current Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, showcasing recurring systemic issues faced by Pakistani athletes.

A Remarkable Journey

Pakistani martial arts Icon Shazaib’s journey is remarkable. Born in Quetta, his rise as a martial artist started at a tender age of four, and through watching YouTube videos arduously refined his techniques. This self-taught discipline formed the basis of an incredible career. He is a five-time National Wushu Champion, dominating the Provincial Championships from 2008 to 2016. He is a renowned Wushu sanda practitioner with an incredible record of more than 60 wins in the Chinese martial art.

In 2016, he won a gold medal at the 3-Nations International Wushu Championship, and in 2017, he won a gold medal again in the All-Pakistan Inter-University Wushu Championship. This shows that not only has he been successful on the national front, but also on the international front. Pakistani martial arts Icon Shazaib Rind has also received bronze medals at the West Asia Wushu Championship (2016) and Pars Cup (2016), among other Silver Medals received at Pars Cup 2017 and the South Asian Games in 2019.

Shazaib Rind made history by becoming the first Pakistani ever to win a World Championship in Karate Combat by winning the Lightweight World Championship (KC-49). And he has successfully retained his Karate Combat title on multiple occasions, recently at KC52 and KC56, ensuring his supremacy in the international scene. Rind has immense potential in various forms of martial arts, having a remarkable record of 75 wins to just 4 losses in his combined Wushu and Kickboxing career. He has always raised the name of Pakistan on many global stages with great pride and recognition.

Government’s Unfulfilled Promises

However, in spite of these amazing successes and his relentless endeavor to uplift the image of Pakistan in the sports world, Pakistani martial arts Icon Shazaib Rind is put in an unfortunate situation. He indicated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had promised to reward him with PKR 5 million and an extra PKR 80 million towards his training. But not a rupee of this money has been paid to him, despite this having been over a year and a half ago.

His perseverance in the face of adversity reflects the broader struggle of many Pakistani athletes who continue to excel despite minimal support. These individuals often fund their own training and travel, relying on personal sacrifices to achieve success where state institutions have largely failed them.

Pakistani martial arts Icon Shazaib Rind made a straightforward statement saying that politicians tend to make “fake promises” rather than simply forgetting. This message resonates deeply with many Pakistani martial arts athletes who, despite having made a big name internationally, never get the institutional support they deserve. Although they win applause in the short term, their triumphs often do not translate to long-term support of their careers or personal health.

This continued neglect not only demoralizes Pakistani martial arts athletes like Shahzaib Rind but also discourages future generations from pursuing careers in sports. The absence of institutional backing affects their training, well-being, and livelihood. For a country striving to make its mark on the global stage, investing in its sports talent should be a national priority. Transparent policies, timely financial support, and consistent recognition are essential to ensure that national heroes are empowered to continue representing Pakistan with pride and excellence.