Pakistan’s first professional female MMA fighter, Anita Karim, will miss her scheduled fight in Abu Dhabi on January 31 due to visa issues. The event organizers invited another fighter in her place after she was unable to arrive on time.
Anita Karim expressed disappointment, saying she had trained for months but could not participate because of visa delays. She added that another fight is scheduled within three weeks, and visa-related obstacles can seriously affect an athlete’s career. She urged authorities to address such issues for the benefit of sports professionals.
Her manager, Yasir Mushtaq, confirmed to a private TV channel that the event management had set a deadline for her visa, and although they waited for a week, it was not issued in time.
Mushtaq noted that Anita Karim is very disappointed but hopes her career can be protected ahead of her next fight, scheduled in April. He called on relevant officials, including Mohsin Naqvi, to resolve her visa issues so that Pakistan’s pioneering female MMA fighter can continue her career.
