Srinagar: A Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district has brought laurels to the nation by representing India and defeating Kazakhstan’s Amanzhol Khaisa in the lightweight category at the Naiza Fighting Championship (NFC).
Owais Yaqoob—a MMA fighter from the Murran area of Pulwama—secured victory against his opponent in a match held at the Abay Arena in Semey, Kazakhstan.
Owais shared that he was the only player from India to participate in the championship. He explained that he dominated all three rounds, each lasting five minutes, to claim victory.
He noted that every win is special, but this one was particularly meaningful as it marked his first triumph outside India, significantly boosting his global ranking.
In March 2024, Owais defeated Afghanistan’s Mohammad Azam Mokhlis at Matrix Fight Night (MFN 14) held in Noida.
Owais, representing India, expressed pride in bringing happiness to the people of Kashmir and beyond. He was warmly welcomed in his native village after his win.
By achieving success on the international stage, Owais has proven that Kashmir is brimming with talent, though he stressed the importance of proper platforms and guidance for aspiring athletes.
He added, “Such wins encourage you to work harder and prove your mettle in upcoming events.”
Notably, Owais signed a three-year contract with MFN in January 2023 and made his professional debut on March 31, 2023.
Since 2015, Owais has trained over 200 youths in various martial arts disciplines, many of whom have represented Jammu and Kashmir at the national level, winning gold medals.
He emphasised that engaging youth in sports is crucial to keeping them away from drugs and anti-social activities. To this end, he founded Lion’s Den, an academy dedicated to teaching martial arts and promoting healthy lifestyles in Pulwama.
Owais said he has been passionate about martial arts since childhood and began competing in 2013, where he won a gold medal in his first tournament. This initial success paved the way for him to represent Jammu and Kashmir at the national level, where he earned numerous accolades.
“I have won 11 gold medals at the national level, six silver medals, and 17 gold medals at the state level. Officials at the All India Mixed Martial Art Federation have declared me the second-best MMA player in India,” he shared.
“Besides medals, I have earned titles such as ‘Best Fighter Boy’ across 28 states and ‘Champion of Champions’ in 2018 in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
Owais is the first professional MMA fighter from Kashmir to secure a place at Matrix Fight Night (MFN).
He encouraged youth to take up sports, saying, “It helps you stay healthy, and MMA is a real fight game. If you work hard, you can represent your state or country on mega stages.” (KNO)
