BANGKOK: Pakistani kickboxer Agha Kaleem won a silver medal in the 51-kilogram category at the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) World Muaythai Championships on Tuesday.
The IFMA World Muaythai Championships are annual Muay Thai competitions organized by the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA). Alongside the World Games, Muay Thai has the highest level of competition globally.
After showcasing remarkable performances in the event, Kaleem was defeated by the Russian opponent in the final of the 51-kilogram category.
The World Muaythai Championship featured players from 40 countries.
Following the defeat in the final, Agha Kaleem accused the referee of showing favoritism towards his opponent.
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The 24-year-old expressed feeling he had not truly lost while expressing gratitude for bringing home a medal for his country.
“I did not lose. They made me lose. The referee displayed bias in the final,” he remarked after losing in the final of the World Muaythai Championship.
“Thanks to Almighty Allah, I won a silver medal for my country,” he added.
Agha Kaleem originally hails from Quetta and now lives in Baldia Town, Karachi. The kickboxer earns his bread and butter by selling tea.
For the unversed, despite his impressive track record and many accolades on both national and international stages, he found himself having to sell parathas (fried bread) at a local stall in Karachi.
However, he eventually received support from notable figures like singer Ali Zafar and former cricket captain Shahid Afridi, which helped him win the International MMA Championship in 2023.
“Alhamdulillah, I won the international MMA championship,” Kaleem posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, tagging Zafar in his message.
The singer warmly responded to congratulate the athlete, saying, “Amazing! Believed in you all the way. So proud.”