(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Pakistan to Miss 2025 World Wrestling Championship Due to Financial Challenges
Pakistan will not participate in the World Wrestling Championship, scheduled from September 13 to 21 in Croatia, marking a major setback in the country’s road to 2028 Olympic qualification.
Federation Confirms Withdrawal
The Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF) has officially confirmed the withdrawal, citing financial limitations and a lack of training camps as the primary reasons. Newly elected PWF Secretary Inam Butt, a well-known name in Pakistan’s wrestling community, expressed disappointment over the development during a recent media interaction.
“The lack of funds and the inability to organize preparatory camps have unfortunately forced us to skip this year’s championship,” Butt explained. “We are actively working to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
Missed Opportunities
The World Wrestling Championship is one of the primary qualification routes for the Olympic Games, making Pakistan’s absence even more significant. This is also the second major event the country has missed this year, following the Asian Wrestling Championship in March—another crucial competition in the Olympic qualification cycle.
Looking Ahead
Despite these setbacks, Butt remains hopeful. He emphasized the federation’s focus on rebuilding the program, starting with securing funding and resuming regular training camps for athletes.
“We will do everything possible to ensure Pakistan is represented at next year’s Asian Wrestling Championship,” he said.
A Critical Turning Point
With Pakistan missing out on two major international competitions in 2025, there is growing urgency to strengthen the national wrestling system. The new PWF leadership has committed to long-term planning and development to support athletes and improve Pakistan’s presence on the global stage.
