Pakistani female fighters Bano Butt and Eman Khan showcased remarkable talent at the Asian MMA Championship 2024, held at the DHA Sports Complex in Lahore, by each securing a gold medal for their country.
The event, which coincided with the BRAVE Combat Federation’s return after a six-year hiatus with BRAVE CF 85, highlighted top MMA fighters from Pakistan alongside internationally recognized athletes, underscoring Pakistan’s growing prominence in the sport.
Bano Butt earned her place in the final after a decisive knockout of Khushboo Nishad from India during the semifinals. In the final match, she demonstrated exceptional skill, defeating Kazakhstan’s Gulnaz Abdrakhmanova to clinch the gold medal.
Meanwhile, Eman Khan delivered a dominant performance against Kazakhstan’s Dinara Ayapova, winning her bout in the first round with a rear-naked choke to secure another gold for Pakistan. Reflecting on her victory, Khan emphasized her dedication, stating she “worked hard for three years to claim this victory.”
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Despite a strong effort, Bushra Ahmed fell short in her final against Kazakhstan’s Adel Makhametova, who is known as a formidable MMA competitor. Ahmed, who had directly qualified for the finals, still earned a silver medal after a challenging match.
In the men’s competition, Pakistani fighters faced tough challenges. Zeeshan Akbar was defeated in the final round by a competitor from Kyrgyzstan, while Shahab Ali and Abdul Manan also did not manage to win their matches.
Overall, Team Pakistan ended the championship with a commendable six medals—two golds and four silvers. Kazakhstan and Tajikistan led the medal standings with seven golds each, followed by Bahrain with three golds. Both Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan secured two gold medals each.
This marked the first time Pakistan hosted the Asian MMA Championship, further solidifying its position in the MMA community.