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MMA star Anita Karim gets a winner's welcome after One Championship win

MMA star Anita Karim gets a winner's welcome after One Championship win

Karim's supporters broke out into dance and showered her with flowers and praise at the Islamabad airport this weekend
Updated 13 Mar, 2019

MMA athlete Anita Karim, who defeated her Indonesian opponent Gita Suharsono in One Warrior Series (OWS) in Singapore on February 28, was given a hero's reception upon her return home this weekend.

Also read: Meet Pakistan's first and only international female mixed martial arts practitioner

Karim, who has bagged her second international win, flew back to Pakistan this weekend and was welcomed with flowers, praise and dance at the Islamabad International Airport.

She posted about her win on Facebook, thanking her family and supporters. "It was a long journey with lots of ups and downs but with my family by my side, I knew I won’t ever give up!"

Photo: Anita Karim Facebook
Photo: Anita Karim Facebook

"Here is to everyone who supported me and helped me get here. My brothers, my coaches Aatif Imtiaz, Ali Sultan, Ehtisham Karim to whom I owe everything that I am today! My home team Fight Fortress Islamabad where I learnt everything and became who I have become."

She thanked the training team for pushing her to do her best, and lastly she gave a "shout out to my Gilgit-Baltistan family for always supporting me and backing me to keep going forward. This is for all of you; all the women out there!"

Comments

Gordon D. Walker Mar 13, 2019 12:42pm
Great... Gordon D. Walker Canada
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Zakia Resshid Mar 13, 2019 12:56pm
Pakistan Zindabaad. Congratulations! Daughter of Pakistan. Welcome back
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Asif Ali Mar 13, 2019 01:09pm
Amazing. Bravo!
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Striver Mar 13, 2019 01:12pm
CONGRATULATIONS Brilliant news and an inspiration not just for Pakistani women but Pakistani men too.
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Mustafa Ali Shah Mar 13, 2019 01:17pm
Great news. You have done us all proud. Keep it up. You are the future of Pakistan. Best wishes. From London.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Mar 13, 2019 02:28pm
Welcome home after your great, memorable and historic victory overseas. Keep it up and hang on tough.
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Buzdar Mar 13, 2019 02:35pm
Well done mate!!. Proud of you. She looks so happy at the airport! :,)
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Sameer Mar 13, 2019 03:09pm
Its time Pakistan moves beyond Cricket in to games not yet plagued by politicism and indian interests. Soccer, wrestling, pool, polo...the list is endless. Cricket is not the end of sports in Pakistan and should be made to take a seat until India falls back. Players like anita for MMA are both women empowering and taking down the cricket mafia.
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Speak_Truth Mar 13, 2019 03:11pm
Good job.
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Bilal Riaz Mar 13, 2019 03:35pm
Go them em Tiger! Bilal Riaz
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Umair Farooqi Mar 13, 2019 03:41pm
I know IK is busy but he should motivate her by having a personal meeting with her. Also this is an opportunity for government to bring some empowerment .
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MSA Mar 13, 2019 04:12pm
Wow
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Rehman Mar 13, 2019 04:22pm
Mashallah! Another success for Pakistan, proud of Anita for her achievements especially with the hurdles she faces coming from a conservative country like Pakistan, wish there were more like her.
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akhtar Mar 13, 2019 05:26pm
great ,,,,brave daughter of gilgit
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SK Mar 13, 2019 06:33pm
Congratulations. May you have many many more successes!
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HashBrown® Mar 13, 2019 06:59pm
Excellent work. Your country is proud of you. Wonderful to see sports personalities start to get some recognition outside the realm of men's cricket...
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Malik Imran Ahmad Mar 13, 2019 09:19pm
Superb !
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Newborn Mar 13, 2019 11:20pm
Had no idea she was from Pakistan. Looks to me no one would want to mess with her, unless they want their bones broken.
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Javed Qamer Engineer Washington DC Mar 14, 2019 02:08am
Well done. More importantly look at the joy in the people who are dancing. You all deserve congratulations. Marvelous. Makes me feel good to see such joy in Pakistan.
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El Cid Mar 14, 2019 06:31am
Bravo! Way to go Anita Karim. This is the way to go to prove yourself ... not that march thingy!
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Akil Akhtar Mar 14, 2019 06:52am
What a girl.....
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helping hands Mar 14, 2019 09:16am
Now this is what I call women rights and feminism in play. Aurat March can get tips from this article!
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Lea Mar 15, 2019 04:05am
She is a beauty.. and smile looks so good on her.. more power to you...
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