Pakistan’s Bano Kausar defeats India’s Richa Sharma in Asian Ju-Jitsu final

Bano Kausar won Pakistan’s only gold medal at the 9th Asian Ju-Jitsu Championship 2025 by defeating India’s Richa Sharma in the final of the women’s 48kg contact category. The event was held in Amman, Jordan, with athletes from over 35 countries participating.

Bano reached the final after a semi-final win over Thailand’s Sugun Nutchaya. Although it was her debut at the Asian Ju-Jitsu Championship, she had already made a name for herself in mixed martial arts. Her transition to Ju-Jitsu has expanded her presence in international combat sports.

Pakistan's team at the championship consisted of only six athletes, three men and three women, all of whom competed without financial support from the Pakistan Sports Board or the Pakistan Olympic Association. The athletes covered all expenses out of their own pockets.

Despite the limited resources, Pakistan managed to secure four medals. Alongside Bano’s gold, bronze medals were won in the duo events by Muhammad Ali Rashid and Muhammad Yousuf Ali in the men’s category, and by Isra Waseem and Kainat Arif in the women’s category.

The Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation (PJJF), which has continued its efforts despite funding challenges, credited coach M. Altaf for discovering and honing Bano’s talent. His commitment to coaching under such constraints was acknowledged by the federation.

Officials from the PJJF and other sporting authorities, including the Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry, extended their congratulations, though notably only after the medals had been won. The athletes competed without any institutional backing.

With over 500 participants in the tournament, Pakistan’s small contingent still succeeded in raising the national flag on the podium. Bano’s gold medal, achieved against the odds, stands as a landmark moment for Pakistani martial arts, reflecting not just the victory itself but the resilience and determination behind it.