Shahzaib Rind, the new World Karate Combat Light Heavyweight Champion, received a grand reception upon his arrival in Pakistan from Singapore late Saturday night.
Top officials including Secretary of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Nadeem Irshad Kayani, Additional Secretary Zahoor Ahmed, Deputy Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Shahid Islam, representatives from the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, and former Deputy Mayor of Islamabad Zeeshan Ali Naqvi, alongside a huge crowd of fans, greeted him at Islamabad International Airport with cheers and applause.
Rind’s impressive win came after defeating Brazilian fighter Luiz Victor Rocha in a high-stakes match during the Karate Combat KC-49 Championship in Singapore on Wednesday. With an undefeated streak throughout the tournament, he made history by becoming the first Pakistani to claim a major world title in martial arts.
A six-time national champion and previous winner of the Combat League in the United States, Rind’s victory has ignited national pride, with fans waving flags and celebrating his accomplishment. Officials from the Ministry of IPC and the PSB praised Rind’s dedication, discipline, and relentless hard work, recognizing him as a symbol of national pride.
In an emotional media address, Shahzaib thanked his supporters, the PSB, and his coaching team for their role in his success. “This victory belongs to the entire nation,” Rind remarked, adding that he had been confident of his triumph from the beginning. “This is just the start. I will keep pushing forward to win more titles for my country,” he vowed.