Pakistan’s top martial artist, Shahzaib Rind, has publicly accused the country’s political leadership of dishonesty and neglect following unfulfilled financial promises made after his international victories. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Rind expressed frustration over the lack of support despite the government’s previous pledges.
The three-time national Wushu champion revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced a reward of PKR 5 million in cash and PKR 80 million to help with his training and upcoming competitions. However, Rind claims that these promises were never honored. “Our politicians are corrupt. Last time I won, Prime Minister announced 5 million cash for me and 80 million to support my training camp and upcoming fights. It was all a lie,” Rind wrote, tagging the ISPR in his post.
Rind, who has an impressive combined record of 75 wins and only 4 defeats in Wushu and Kickboxing, stated that he had made multiple attempts to contact the Prime Minister’s team but received no response. “I don’t know why I haven’t received what I was promised almost 1.5 years ago,” Rind added.
Currently holding the title of Lightweight World Champion in Karate Combat, Rind’s criticisms highlight a persistent issue in Pakistan, where athletes are often celebrated after their major victories but left without sufficient institutional backing. Shahzaib Rind’s latest triumph, the KC Lightweight World Championship at KC 56, came after a dominant performance against Brazil’s Luis Rocha, extending his undefeated professional record to 8-0.
In addition to his recent victory, Rind made history in 2024 by becoming Pakistan’s first-ever world champion in Karate Combat, defeating Brazil’s Bruno Roberto De Assis in the KC-49 final in Singapore. He is also a six-time national Wushu champion and previously won the Combat League title in the United States.
Rind’s allegations bring attention to the recurring issue faced by many athletes in Pakistan, where the lack of institutional support continues to hinder their progress despite their achievements on the international stage.
In other news read more about Shahzaib Rind Clinches KC Lightweight World Championship with Dominant Win
