In a significant blow, Pakistan’s first female Mixed Martial Artist (MMA), Anita Karim, was forced to miss her scheduled match in Abu Dhabi due to visa complications.

Anita’s fight was set to take place on January 31 against UAE Warriors 67 in Abu Dhabi, but a late denial of a visa dashed her hopes.

The fighter hailing from Hunza Valley, Pakistan, took to the ‘X’ handle to announce the news, in which she shed light on the issue.

“A sad state of affair for any Pakistani athlete but it is what it is. I would like extend my gratitude and thank my sponsors AT Farms and Hunza Oxadine for having my back during this critical time,” she wrote.

Anita Karim further wrote that she prepared for months to feature in the fight, but visa issues dashed her hopes.

“I was scheduled to fight on 31st in UAE Warriors 67 in Abu Dhabi. Despite months of preparation and a fully organized bout, I am currently unable to participate due to visa issues,” she revealed.

“This was set to be my second fight within a span of three weeks, which required me to go the extra mile in training, recovery, and preparation,” she explained.

She stressed that professional athletes dedicate extensive time to preparing for their fights, pointing out that setbacks beyond their control can have lasting effects on their long-term progress.

“For professional athletes, especially female athletes, preparation involves months of disciplined work, physical sacrifice, and mental focus.”

“Administrative delays at this stage do not just affect one event. They impact an athlete’s career, momentum, and the opportunity to represent the country on an international platform,” she concluded.

Who is Anita Karim?

Anita Karim, also known as ‘Arm-collector‘, is Pakistan’s first female Mixed Martial Artist (MMA).

The 29-year-old started her journey in Taekwondo and Jiu-Jitsu before professionally taking on MMA.

Anita hails from Hunza and has won several professional fights, including the Brazilian belt in Jiu-Jitsu, making her the first woman from Pakistan to do so.

A week earlier, she also won the “Infinite Championship” held in Islamabad, creating history by retaining the title in Pakistan after winning the nation’s first-ever professional MMA league.

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