PESHAWAR – Young martial arts athlete Ali Wazir, who won a gold medal for Pakistan in the International Open Martial Arts Wushu Championship held in Saudi Arabia, was welcomed with immense pride and celebration upon his return to Peshawar.
A grand reception was organized at the Hayatabad Sports Complex, where fellow athletes, coaches, sports enthusiasts, and the public greeted him with garlands, applause, and heartfelt appreciation.
The event featured a cake-cutting ceremony in Ali Wazir’s honor, and impressive Taekwondo demonstrations by junior and senior club athletes. Friendly matches added further color and excitement to the occasion.
The event was attended by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ITF Association Chairman and Coach Naveed Habibi, Sports Complex Admin Abid Nazim, Ali Wazir’s father, and a large number of male and female athletes.
Speaking to the media, Taekwondo Master Naveed Habibi praised Ali Wazir as a multi-talented martial arts athlete who excels not only in Taekwondo but also in Kickboxing, MMA, and Boxing. He said this gold medal marks only the beginning of Ali’s journey and that with proper government and private support, many more athletes like him could emerge from Pakistan.
Ali Wazir expressed his pride in representing Pakistan internationally and said winning gold was a dream come true. He revealed that his club has now offered him a coaching role, which he considers a great honor.
He attributed his success to the unmatched training of Coach Naveed Habibi, whose guidance helped him master multiple martial arts styles.
The ceremony concluded with renewed hope that with proper platforms, training, and encouragement, Pakistan’s hidden martial arts talent could achieve even greater international recognition.
In his closing remarks, Ali Wazir extended heartfelt thanks to Grand Master Raheemullah Habibi, senior black belts of KP ITF Association including Ajmal Afridi, Muhammad Shehzad, Muhammad Rehmani, Hashim Afridi, Idrees Afridi, Safeena Jabran, and dignitaries like Umar Khatib, Dr. Usman, Jabran Shafaq, and Zakir Marwat for organizing the memorable event.
