Fake International Glory: How Exhibition Martial Arts Events Turned Into a Funding Scam

 

Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow ,Digital Creator

For the past several years, a troubling pattern has taken root in Pakistan’s martial arts scene, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Under the banner of “international competitions,” dozens of so called athletes travel to countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Dubai, and Indonesia, return with medals, wave the Pakistani flag, and present themselves as national heroes. On social media they are celebrated as champions. In official files, they are treated as achievers. In reality, most of these events are little more than exhibitions with no sporting value, no credible federation backing, and no legitimate pathway through recognized competitive structures. The issue is not international exposure. The issue is deception.

A large number of these athletes have no verifiable record at the grassroots level. They have not won inter club competitions. They have not qualified at district level. They have not stood out at provincial championships. Many have never competed nationally. Yet they somehow bypass every legitimate step in the sporting ladder and emerge overnight as “international medalists.” This alone should raise serious questions.

In organized sport, international participation is not accidental. It follows a process. Athletes compete locally, qualify at district level, progress to provincial championships, and only then earn the right to represent their region or country through officially recognized federations. This structure exists to protect merit, fairness, and credibility. In Pakistan’s martial arts sector, this structure is being deliberately ignored.

Most of the overseas events frequently advertised as international championships are not listed on the calendars of recognized world federations. They are not affiliated with Olympic bodies, Asian federations, or internationally accepted governing organizations. Many are privately arranged tournaments or commercial exhibitions where participation is open to anyone who can pay the fee. Winning a medal in such an event carries no technical or competitive value. Despite this, these medals are routinely presented as national achievements.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has become a focal point of this problem. A small, repeat group of individuals dominates foreign tours year after year. The same faces appear in delegation photos. The same names receive funding. The same claims of international success are recycled. This has effectively turned the sport into a closed circle, where access is not based on performance but on proximity to self styled federations and organizers. The most concerning aspect is funding.

Public money is being used to support these trips. In some cases, funds are taken from provincial sports budgets. In others, assistance is sought at the federal level. These resources are meant to support athlete development, infrastructure, coaching, and legitimate international exposure. Instead, they are often spent on travel, accommodation, and publicity for events that hold no recognized sporting value.This is not just financial misuse. It is a betrayal of real athletes.

Across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there are young martial artists training in basic facilities, often without mats, equipment, or qualified coaches. Many compete honestly at district and provincial events but are ignored because they lack connections or media presence. While they struggle for recognition, others with no competitive record are flying abroad and returning as “international champions.” Social media has amplified the problem.

A single photo with a medal and a Pakistani flag is enough to manufacture success. There is rarely any scrutiny of the event itself. No one asks which federation organized it, how many competitors participated, or what qualification standards were applied. Emotional captions replace facts. Public applause replaces accountability. Anyone who raises questions is labeled negative, jealous, or anti sport.

Media outlets are also part of the problem. Many report these claims without verification. Headlines celebrate achievements without confirming whether the competition was recognized or whether the athlete was officially selected. This careless reporting strengthens a false narrative and normalizes deception. Another layer of concern is the role of so called federations.

Several martial arts bodies operating in Pakistan have questionable legal and technical standing. Some are registered locally but have no affiliation with recognized international governing bodies. Others claim global connections that cannot be verified. These organizations issue selection letters, organize foreign tours, and present themselves as official authorities. In practice, they function as private clubs controlling access to opportunities and funds. By doing so, they hold the sport hostage.

Anyone who challenges their legitimacy risks being sidelined. Coaches who speak up lose chances. Athletes who ask for transparency are excluded. This culture of silence allows the cycle to continue unchecked. The damage is long term.

When unqualified individuals are repeatedly promoted as international champions, standards collapse. Titles lose meaning. Young athletes lose motivation. The public becomes cynical. Over time, genuine talent either quits or leaves the system entirely. This is how sports decline, not because of lack of talent, but because of lack of integrity.

It is also important to clarify that traveling abroad does not automatically make an athlete international. Representation is defined by selection through recognized federations, not by personal travel or private invitations. Many of these trips are personal ventures later rebranded as national missions. This misrepresentation is misleading and unethical. So what needs to change?

First, provincial and federal sports authorities must clearly define which martial arts federations are recognized and which international events are valid. A public list should be issued and updated regularly. Any event outside this framework should not be eligible for funding or official endorsement.

Second, funding criteria must be strict and transparent. No athlete should receive public money without a documented competitive record at club, district, provincial, and national levels. Selection processes must be published, not decided behind closed doors.

Third, federations operating without recognized international affiliation should be barred from organizing foreign tours under the banner of national representation. Their activities should be audited, and their claims verified.

Fourth, the media must take responsibility. Reporting should be based on verification, not press releases or social media posts. Asking basic questions is not hostility; it is journalism.

Finally, athletes and coaches must be protected when they speak up. Whistleblowers should not be punished for demanding fairness. Without their voices, reform is impossible. This is not an attack on martial arts. It is a defense of it.

Martial arts demand discipline, honesty, and respect. When fake achievements replace real struggle, the sport loses its soul. National flags should be raised on merit, not rented for photographs. Medals should represent competition, not convenience.

If Pakistan, and especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, wants to build a credible martial arts future, it must end this culture of exhibition glory and restore the value of real competition. Otherwise, the damage will not be limited to wasted funds. It will cost an entire generation of athletes their faith in the system.

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