Sport Desk
COLOMBO: The South Asian Ju-Jitsu Championship 2026 officially commenced at the Digana Sports Complex, Sri Lanka, featuring participation from leading athletes and officials across the South Asian region.
The championship opened on a high note, showcasing top-level competition across multiple disciplines, including Duo System, Fighting, and Youth divisions.
Pakistani delegation comprising a contingent of only 11 athletes, delivered an impressive performance on the first day of competitions. In contrast, some competing nations, including India, have fielded significantly larger squads, with contingents exceeding 80 athletes, highlighting the remarkable efficiency and resilience of the Pakistani team.
At the first day, Pakistani athletes achieved outstanding results in the Duo events:
In Duo Men / Classic category, Muhammad Ali Rashid & Muhammad Yousuf Ali earned Gold Medal, whereas in Duo Mixed category, Muhammad Ali Rashid & Isra Waseem achieved Gold Medal.
In Duo category, Kainat Arif & Isra Waseem achieved Silver Medal whereas in Duo Mixed category Reshaal Khan & Muhammad Abdullah Ali achieved Silver Medal.
In the Fighting and Ne-Waza categories Pakistani athletes continued their strong showing as Kainat Arif earned Gold Medal in -57 kg whereas Vishal won Silver Medal in -48 kg.
The Championship also included Youth Categories in U16 & U18 categories. Young athletes also made a significant impact. Zunaira Zulfiqar & Sundus Ali won Gold Medal and Sundus Ali & M. Abdullah Ali won Silver Medal in Duo team events.
Officials from the Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation commended the athletes for their discipline, technical excellence, and outstanding performance, particularly emphasizing Pakistan’s dominance in the Duo System events, where the team secured top positions on the victory podium.
Khalil Ahmed Khan, Chairman, said he was very proud of the team having demonstrated exceptional performance on the opening day, reflecting their dedication, discipline, and high-quality preparation. “Achieving such results with limited resources makes this performance even more commendable.”
Tariq Ali, Secretary General and Team Leader, who is also present with the team in Sri Lanka added: “I am highly encouraged by the team’s performance on the first day. Our athletes have shown remarkable commitment and fighting spirit. We are optimistic that the second day results will be even stronger, and the team will continue to bring further success for Pakistan.”
The championship will continue over the coming days, featuring elite athletes from across South Asia in one of the region’s most prestigious martial arts competitions.
