Tag Archives: Indian Muslims in MMA Sports

Kargil MMA players win 3 national medals, coach Mahdi upbeat

September 2, 2025SportsAli Akbar, Ali Akbar - Medalist - National Mixed Martial Arts Championship - Mumbai, Ali Akbar - MMA Athlete, Indian MMA Athletes, Indian Muslims, Indian Muslims in MMA Sports, Kargil MMA Sports Athletes, M Anas, Mahdi Nasiri, Mahdi Nasiri - MMA Coach, MMA Sports in India, Mohammed Hasnain, Mohammed Hasnain - Medalist - National Mixed Martial Arts Championship - Mumbai, Mohammed Hasnain - MMA Athlete, Murtaza Ali, Murtaza Ali - MMA Athlete, Murtaza Ali Khuddam, Murtaza Ali Khuddam - Gold Medallist - National Mixed Martial Arts Championship, Muslims of India, Muslims of India - Positive News, Muslims of Kargil, Muslims of Kargil - Ladakh, Muslims of Ladakh, Muslims of Ladakh in MMA, Positive News of Indian Muslims, Positive News of Muslims of India, Positive News of Muslims of Kargil, Positive News of Muslims of Ladakh, Positive Stories of Indian Muslims, Positive Stories of Muslims of Indiampositiveone@gmail.com

Kargil, LADAKH :

Coach Mahdi Nasiri (In the center) flanked by Murtaza Ali Khuddam, Ali Akbar and Mohammed Hasnain.

Ladakh, now the Union Territory, has registered its name on the national stage for reasons other than the Kashmir conflict and continued Line of Actual Control (LAC) standoff with China. A three-member team from the UT has gained the third position at the National Mixed Martial Arts Championship held in Mumbai this week. The team won a total of four medals — one gold, one silver, and two bronzes.

Murtaza Ali Khuddam has won the Gold Medal in the 79 kg category by knocking down his opponent in the 1st round of the final match. Other medalists are Ali Akbar and Mohammed Hasnain.

Their success is due to their grit, determination, and willpower. This reporter spoke with the Gold medalist Murtaza Ali Khuddam and his coach Mahdi Nasiri on their journey.

The Winners and the coach with their trophy and medals

Nasiri and Khuddam hail from the Kargil district. Mahdi said that he has been a UFC Mixed Martial Arts fighter for long and now coaches and mentors youth who are attracted to the sport. “I developed a passion for this game by watching and reading about international stars and started to self-train in my teenage years. Slowly, I gained confidence and got in touch with known sportsmen of my region.

“They were impressed with my skills and coached me further. Then, on someone’s advice, I went to Iran and spent five years learning and participating in various competitions there,” said Nasiri.

He added that when Bollywood personalities, Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty, organised Super Fight League in 2012, he participated in it and won a gold medal. “Besides, I also won medals in some other events, but my life didn’t change as this sport is not widely played and promoted in India. Plus, the required facilities are scarce. I used to practice alone in a makeshift arena and by watching videos. There was no support from the government or a private organisation. Yes, some individuals used to lend support,” said Mahdi.

The winning team being received at Airport

Mahdi shared with us some videos that showed him practicing and training in a makeshift arena covered with polyethylene sheets to secure players against cold.

Mahdi has become a professional coach. “I hope our performance in MMAFI would improve things. It has already caught the attention of the government.

“Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur in a tweet has appreciated the team for the brilliant performance, particularly of Murtaza Ali Khuddam. Local federation for MMA too is upbeat and would help in uplifting the game and lives of players,” said Mahdi.

Murtaza Ali Khuddam, the gold-medallist, and star of the tournament said, “We grew up watching international star Khabib and Mahdi Bhai playing this very difficult sport. They have been our inspiration. Whatever know about fighting, I have learned from Mahdi Bhai, whether it is elbow strike, ground, and pound, back control, armbar, sprawl, etc.

The team waiting to fly – at the airport

“We had nothing in the name of facilities except a makeshift arena but, we had a lot of determination to prove our mettle. We knew that once we make our mark, our path will be illuminated. See, today as we returned to our hometown, around 200 vehicles had come to receive us. We hope this euphoria will earn attention for MMA in our country too,” Khuddam said.

He also said that for becoming an MMA fighter, the most important is physical strength. “I had built that by following a certain diet regime suggested by Mahdi Bhai,” he said.

The Mixed Martial Arts championship was organised by the Mixed Martial Arts Federation of India (MMAFI).

Khuddam, who is the youngest of his three siblings, said he or the other MMA players from Kargil did not receive any support from the Ladakh Sports authorities. “But, we were not hopeless. Our medal-earning performance will pave the way for a better future. The government will wake up too,” he said.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by M Anas, New Delhi / December 25th, 2021

From UP to Hyderabad: Journey of MMA fighter Khushboo Nishad

October 2, 2023Amazing Feats, Sports, Videos, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)Indian Muslim Achievers, Indian Muslim Women Achievers, Indian Muslim Women in Sports, Indian Muslims in MMA Sports, Khushboo Nishad, Khushboo Nishad - MMA Fighter, MMA Fighters of Allahabad, MMA Fighters of Uttar Pradesh, Muslim Achievers in India, Muslim Women MMA Fighters of Allahabad, Muslim Women MMA Fighters of Hyderabad, Muslim Women MMA Fighters of India, Muslim Women MMA Fighters of Telangana, Muslim Women MMA Fighters of Uttar Pradesh, Muslim Women of Uttar Pradesh, Muslims of Allahabad, Muslims of UP in Sports, Muslims of Uttar Pradesh, Women MMA Fighters of Allahabad, Women MMA Fighters of Uttar Pradeshmpositiveone@gmail.com

Allahabad, UTTAR PRADESH / Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

Khushboo has been practising different forms of martial arts for about 11 years.

Leaving her home and family behind in Uttar Pradesh, 23-year-old Khushboo Nishad secretly travelled to Hyderabad two years ago under the guise of a job transfer to become a mixed martial artist. Within a short period of time, she earned a silver medal at a national-level amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) tournament.

A native of Allahabad, Khushboo has been practising different forms of martial arts for about 11 years now. She started with Judo at the age of 12, moving on to master the South Korean art of Taekwondo for another three years. Khusboo’s father taught her Karate.

Mastering different styles of fighting consequently developed her interest in the fastest-growing combat sport- Mixed Martial Arts. Khushboo said she tried learning MMA in UP, however,”I couldn’t find the level of training I was looking for,” she told Siasat.com.

She started her own research, some ‘asking around,’ and concluded that the best training she could find was in Hyderabad under the guidance of Sheikh Khalid. Moreover, Khalid taught MMA in a traditional form.

Khusboo never told her family about her dream to become a mixed martial artist. “I worked for Radisson in Ludhiana for eight months in order to save money and persue my goals,” she added.

Knowing very well her family would not allow her to go to Hyderabad, Khusboo told them she was transferred to the city of pearls by her company.

Narrating an incident that led to this decision Khushboo said, “One day my father saw a video where I was punched on my face by my coach. Disturbed, he immediately called me back.”

Khusboo was studying at Amity University, Lucknow at that time.

To keep her father happy, Khusboo studied hard and secured a top rank in her college. However, she still nourished the dream of becoming a mixed martial artist.

“I am extremely grateful to the person who recommended Sheikh Khalid to me. I have learned so many new things here,” she concludes adding that she has fallen in love with the city.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Usama Hazari / July 28th, 2022

Watch Mahboob Khan’s journey: A hidden gem in India’s combat sports

September 7, 2022Amazing Feats, Sports, Videos, World OpinionIndian Muslims in MMA Sports, Indian Muslims in Sports, Indian Muslims of Hyderabad, Indian Muslims of Telangana, Mahbob Khan - Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Hyderabad, Mahboob Khan, Mahboob Khan - MMA Fighter, Muslims of Gulbarga, Muslims of Hyderabad, Muslims of Karnataka, Muslims of Telanagana, Positive News of Muslims of Hyderabad, Positive News on Muslims of Telangana, Positive Stories on Muslims of Hyderabad, Shaik Khalid, Shaik Khalid - Head Coach - Hyderabad MMA Gymmpositiveone@gmail.com

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Hyderabad:

Although known primarily for its food and culture, Hyderabad is fast emerging as a centre for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). All over the country, those looking to make their mark in the sport make the city their home as the Hyderabad MMA Gym on Kali Khabar Road in Chaderghat churns out well-rounded, technically sound fighters. The man responsible for this, Head Coach Shaik Khalid, creates fighters adept at grappling and striking.

Among his earlier students is India’s first gold medallist in the sport, Mahboob Khan. Originally from Gulbarga, Karnataka, he moved to Hyderabad with his family at the age of 10. To help make ends meet, he began working from a very young age at an onion shop in Madannapet. His work ethic improved even further as helped provide for his family.

But a chance visit to Shaik Khalid’s gym would change his life as Khalid recognized that Mahboob incorporated the same discipline from his previous jobs into his training.

Seeing this potential, Khalid asked Mahboob to quit his job and paid for his daily expenses. The result has been a gold medal on the international stage and more than 10 within the country’s domestic scene. He hopes to also make a professional debut soon. Do check out Siasat.com’s mini-documentary about Khan’s journey.