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...