Many hardworking players who represented Pakistan on international stage and earned honors for the country have not been getting the attention and support they deserve just because the sports they ply their trade in are less popular in the country, hence, they don’t get much attention from the government.
Kickboxing is one of those overlooked sports.
Pakistani Kickboxer Agha Kalim said he couldn’t participate in his two fights scheduled in Thailand and Dubai already for he couldn’t get a sponsor.
“I have a fight coming up in Russia next month,” Agha Kalim said. “And if I couldn’t get a sponsorship for this one, I may miss this one too.”
Sad as it is, it isn’t the tragic part of the story that a Kickboxer who represented Pakistan on the international stage couldn’t get a sponsor, tragedy is this hardworking international athlete sells tea to earn a living.
While talking to MM News, Kick-boxer Agha Kalim had his medals around his neck, he pleaded to the public and private sector to support him. So, he could only focus on kickboxing instead of working in a tea-joint.
Agha Kalim, while sharing his story, said he came to Karachi about 25 years ago.
“I left school after matric for I couldn’t continue due to financial restraints,” Agha said. “Then I decided to join Kick-boxing.”
“I did not have a great start as I lost my first fight, but I beat the same opponent in the next season, and that’s when my path to success in Kick-boxing began.” He added.
Talking about his record, Agha Kalim said he won 17 fights with just one defeat. He participated in competitions on district, Intra-club, and All Pakistan levels.
“I fractured my hand once during a fight, but I didn’t give up,” the young Kickboxer said “Although, it’s been tough these days as I am working a full-time job in a tea-joint while training in my spare time.”
