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.
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.
Anita karim,,,
— Haji Shafqat Sultan (@HajiShafqatSul1) March 11, 2019
First pakistani lady mixed martial art fighter,,,
Proud daughter of pakistan,,
Brave daughter of gilgit baltistan,,, pic.twitter.com/EdEBf9ZfLP
Hundreds of Pakistani men give rousing homecoming reception to Anita Karim, Pakistan's first female Mixed Martial Arts #MMA athlete who won the "One Warrior Series" held last week in Singapore @IMMAFed pic.twitter.com/hgS5doF7gv
— Ziad Zafar (@ziadzafar) March 12, 2019
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!"
"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!"
