Pakistan wins two gold medals at GAMMA Asian MMA Championship
Two finals, two golds
Jawad Ahmed won the Under-16 54kg final, defeating Kazakhstan's Zharylkassinov Merman to become Asian champion in his weight category. In the Under-18 56kg final, Muhammad Saqib overcame Thailand's Changpan Wachart to secure Pakistan's second gold of the tournament and his own Asian title.
Both fighters had booked their spots in the finals a day earlier with strong semifinal performances, with Jawad defeating an opponent from Kyrgyzstan and Saqib overpowering a fighter from Kazakhstan to advance.
The championship drew more than 200 athletes from 16 countries across Asia, underlining the scale of the competition both Pakistani fighters came through.
Saqib builds on existing world title
Saqib's win in Kuala Lumpur added to an already strong record for the young Karachi-based fighter, who trains at Badshah Wushu MMA Academy under coach Imran Qasim.
He had previously become the first Pakistani to win a GAMMA World MMA Championship gold medal, taking the Under-18 52.2kg title at the 2024 edition of the event in Jakarta, where he defeated opponents from Ukraine and Kazakhstan en route to the final.
His victory in the Asian Under-18 56kg category this year reinforces his position as one of the country's most consistent performers on the international MMA circuit across two different weight divisions.
π΅π° Pakistan strikes gold at the GAMMA Asian MMA Championship! They were crowned Asian Champions, bringing two gold medals home. ππ
β PTV Sports (@PTVSp0rts) July 30, 2026
π₯ Jawad Ahmad (U16, 54kg)
π M Saqib (U18, 56kg) pic.twitter.com/Hq19K30zTa
Federation praises the performances
Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation President Zulfiqar Ali praised both fighters' performances ahead of their gold-medal bouts, expressing confidence in their ability to succeed at the tournament.
Following the wins, officials framed the double gold as a significant marker of progress for Pakistan's developing MMA programme, which has produced a steady stream of international medals at junior level over the past two years.
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Part of a broader push in Pakistani MMA
Pakistan's MMA federation has built increasing international visibility since Saqib's breakthrough 2024 world title, with other young fighters and officials also making history in the sport, including the country's first male and female international MMA referees and judges.
The federation continues to develop young talent through academies such as Saqib's in Karachi, with officials describing the sport's growth in the country as accelerating heading into future world and continental championships.
