Danish Ajmal, a Pakistani Christian, Asian martial arts champion
The competition was held last week in Negombo, Sri Lanka. The young athlete from Karachi won the 60kg Muay Boran category. “I won because of the prayers of my parents and my community,” he told AsiaNews. He was able to participate thanks to funds raised among his friends and family. Now he is appealing for a sponsor to support him on his future endeavours.
Karachi (AsiaNews) – Danish Ajmal, a Pakistani martial arts athlete, brought prestige and pride to his country by winning a gold medal at the ITMA 2026 Asian Games held last week in Negombo, Sri Lanka.
The young man from Karachi, increasingly popular among young Christians and sports fans, secured victory in the 60kg Muay Boran category after an impressive performance at the tournament.
Speaking of his triumph, Danish attributed it to the prayers of his parents and community, as well as years of hard work and determination despite financial hardships.
"I won because of the prayers of my parents and my community. I struggled a lot to reach this stage because I come from a family that is rich in faith but limited in financial resources," he told AsiaNews.
Danish expressed gratitude to his coaches at the Bushi Ban Fighter's Den, where he trained under Senior Coach Shoaib Butt and Junior Coach Amanullah.
He highlighted the support and unity he experienced at the club, saying he never faced discrimination despite being the only Christian athlete among many Muslim and other trainees.
The athlete said that financial difficulties almost prevented him from participating in the international competition. As the son of a daily wage earner, arranging travel expenses seemed impossible until a private sponsor stepped forward.
“When I was selected for the tournament, I became worried because there was no support from the government or any other institution,” the young Christian said. “My family and I kept praying. Then my coach informed me that AMProtocols Labs had agreed to sponsor half of my travel expenses. The remaining amount was arranged through support from family, friends, and relatives," he added.
Danish described winning the gold medal as a dream come true and said he hopes his journey will inspire young people, especially young Christians, to pursue their goals through faith, dedication, and hard work.
Looking to the future, he expressed his ambition to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the United States, one of the most prestigious mixed martial arts platforms in the world.
Shoaib Butt, head of delegation of the Pakistani martial arts and combat sports team, noted that his country secured an impressive third-place finish in the tournament with a total of 13 medals, including five gold, four silver, and four bronze.
Host nation Sri Lanka finished first, while India secured second place overall.
In addition to Danish's gold medal win, other Pakistani athletes achieved excellent performances, confirming a truly valuable national movement across various disciplines and categories.
The sporting achievements extend beyond the recent Asian Games, with medals and victories in several national and regional competitions recently.
Kashif Anthony, secretary of the Catholic Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism of the Archdiocese of Karachi, praised the young athlete's dedication and called for greater support.
“Danish is a Pakistani talented young athlete with tremendous potential. Unfortunately, financial constraints continue to limit his opportunities. The government and private sponsors should recognise his talent and support him so that he can continue representing Pakistan at international events," Anthony said.
Anthony highlighted a touching moment of sportsmanship during the final match. After Danish accidentally injured his Indian opponent and broke his arm, he personally apologised after the athlete received medical attention.
The Indian athlete accepted the apology warmly, embraced Danish, and reminded him that injuries are part of sports. The two athletes later posed together for a photograph, demonstrating friendship and mutual respect beyond national boundaries.
The Pakistani Church also congratulated the athlete. Father Bonny Mendas praised Danish for his achievement, describing it as a source of pride for both Pakistan and the Christian community.
He “made the entire country proud through his determination and success,” the clergyman said. “We hope he continues to achieve greater milestones and bring more honours to Pakistan in the future," he added.
The Pakistani contingent's remarkable performance and Ajmal's inspiring journey have been widely praised in sporting circles, with many expressing the hope that these talented athletes will continue to excel on the international stage.
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