Visa Issues Force Pakistan’s First Professional Women’s MMA Fighter Anita Karim Out of Abu Dhabi Fight

Pakistan’s first professional women’s MMA fighter, Anita Karim, will be unable to compete in her scheduled bout in Abu Dhabi after failing to obtain a visa on time.

Anita Karim was set to fight in an MMA event on January 31 in Abu Dhabi. However, due to delays in visa issuance, the event management invited another fighter to replace her after the deadline expired.

Expressing disappointment, Anita Karim said she had trained for several months for the fight but could not participate because of visa-related problems. She added that another fight was scheduled for her within three weeks, and issues like visas seriously damage an athlete’s career. She stressed that visa matters for athletes should be taken more seriously.

Speaking to Geo News, Anita Karim’s manager Yasir Mushtaq confirmed that she would not be able to take part in the fight. He said the event management had given a clear visa deadline and even waited for a week, but the visa was not issued in time.

Yasir Mushtaq further said that Anita Karim is deeply disappointed, adding that her next fight is scheduled for April. He urged Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to help resolve Anita Karim’s visa issues to safeguard the career of Pakistan’s first female MMA fighter.