The fighter from Assam, bullied during his school days, excels in the Asian championship
Team Clarion
GUWAHATI — Arshad Ali, a 27-year-old mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, has turned his struggles into success, earning international acclaim for his skills.
Ali, who faced bullying during his school days, brought laurels for India as he won a bronze medal at the 2nd Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championship held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from July 11 to 13.
Ali, a trainee at Legacy Combat MMA Gym in Guwahati and a resident of Gurchuk, has been selected for the 2024 Asian Indoor Games, a prestigious event featuring recognised sports authorities across Asia. The Asian MMA Championship is known as the toughest tournament in Asia, with fierce competition from every Asian country.
Arshad Ali shared his joy over his recent achievements. “I am very happy to participate in the tournament (2nd Asian MMA Championship), we had eight players in our Indian team. I was the only one from the North East. After taking MMA, I used to do kickboxing and wushu and competed in many competitions, then I switched to MMA, and now I love it,” Ali was quoted by Awaz-The Voice as saying.
Arshad Ali trains daily at the gym under the guidance of renowned MMA fighter Shakeel Anzam. Although there is no set coaching time, he practices for 2-3 hours daily. Addressing common misconceptions about MMA, Ali emphasised, “Many people think MMA is just a fighting sport, but it is not. Real martial artists never fight. Most people come to learn MMA for self-defence. Martial arts never teach one to fight, but MMA teaches you to be in complete control of your mind.”
Apart from his success at the Asian Championship, Ali has also won gold medals in kickboxing and bronze in wushu at the state and national levels. Despite facing various challenges, including initial skepticism about his abilities due to his thin physique, Ali has persevered. “Many people told me, ‘You can’t do this. MMA is not the sport for you.’ But despite all these demoralising obstacles, I went ahead, and today I have made my country proud,” Ali said.
The physical demands of MMA have also been a concern for Ali’s family, who at times urged him to quit the sport. “Playing MMA takes a lot of physical damage, which scares my family. Sometimes my family would say that I should not play this game anymore. But, I thought I would continue with my passion no matter the challenge. I am currently very proud of it, if I can do it then anyone can,” Ali stated.
Arshad Ali’s aspirations do not end with his current achievements. He dreams of competing in the UFC ring, the ultimate stage in MMA, and aims to play in the World Championship in the future. However, Ali faces financial challenges as MMA is not an officially recognised sport in India. Consequently, he does not receive any government assistance and has to rely on support from the MMA India Federation and his own pocket.
“MMA is a relatively new sport in India and as such, we do not yet enjoy any government or corporate support. Some combat sports like boxing, wushu, taekwondo, etc., are recognised, and the athletes get a lot of support including reservations. I hope that one day MMA will also be recognised and the athletes will benefit from different disciplines,” Ali said.
Arshad Ali’s journey from a bullied schoolboy to an internationally recognised MMA fighter is a testament to his mental strength, determination, and high spirits. His story serves as an inspiration to many, showing that with perseverance and passion, one can overcome any obstacle and achieve great heights.
