Both Remaining Wrestlers Lose to Strong Opponents, Leaving Pakistan Without a Medal in Nagoya
KARACHI: Pakistan ended their wrestling journey at the Asian Games on a disappointing note when their remaining two wrestlers also exited without a breakthrough. Former Youth Olympics bronze medallist Inayat Ullah lost 12-2 to Kazakhstan’s Nurkozha Kaipanov in the men’s freestyle 74kg round of 16. Muhammad Gulzar lost both of his bouts in the 97kg category, including a heavy defeat in the repechage. With Noman Zaka and Mohammad Abdullah also out a day earlier, none of Pakistan’s four wrestlers reached the medal matches.
Background: A Four-Man Squad in One of the Toughest Events
Pakistan sent four male freestyle wrestlers to the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya. The squad was made up of Muhammad Abdullah (65kg), Inayat Ullah (74kg), Noman Zaka (86kg) and Muhammad Gulzar (97kg). The Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF), which was formed in Lahore in 1953 and runs the sport in the country, had chosen them after national trials.
Before the Games, a federation official described the competition as one of the toughest wrestling events in the world, noting that Japan, Iran and several other countries have Olympic and Asian champions. He also said that Pakistani wrestlers do not get the same level of training facilities and international exposure as their rivals. Part of the squad attended a month-long training camp in Russia, funded from money released by the Pakistan Sports Board for young athletes.
Details: How the Final Two Bouts Went
Inayat Ullah, who was born in Peshawar and is also known for a Commonwealth Games bronze medal, started with some resistance but could not hold off Kaipanov. The Kazakh wrestler, who was described as a 2024 world championship gold medallist, took control and won the first period 6-2. He then scored another six points in the second period to complete a 12-2 win, which ended Inayat’s tournament in the round of 16.
Muhammad Gulzar had an even tougher day in the 97kg category. He first lost to Iran’s Amirali Azarpira in the round of 16 in a one-sided bout, where he struggled to create scoring chances. He was then given a repechage match against Turkmenistan’s Shatlyk Hemelyayev, but the result was the same. Hemelyayev scored 12 unanswered points to win by technical superiority, and Gulzar could not register a single point.
Gulzar had earlier won a bronze medal at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, so the Asian Games result was a big step down from that achievement. His performance also showed the difference between regional competitions and the Asian Games, where the field is much deeper.
Quotes: What Officials Have Said
Note for the writer: please add one or two verified statements from the Pakistan Wrestling Federation, the team manager or the wrestlers after the exit. Do not publish invented quotes.
“[Insert verified statement],” said [Name, Designation].
Sports observers say that facing Kazakhstan and Iran in the early rounds is always a tough test for any team, as both countries have strong wrestling programmes. The federation’s earlier comments about limited facilities and exposure are likely to come up again after the results.
Impact: What the Results Mean for Pakistani Wrestling
The four exits mean that Pakistan’s wrestling contingent returns without a medal from Nagoya. This is a setback for a sport that has a proud history in the country but has struggled to compete at the top Asian level in recent years. The heavy scores, including the 12-point defeats, will increase calls for better planning and more international competition.
Searches about Inayat wrestler Wikipedia pages, age, videos or his results from 2022 show that fans are interested in the athletes, but information should be checked on official profiles. The PWF also oversees women’s wrestling, and many readers have asked about Pakistani woman wrestler options, but no women wrestlers were part of the four-man team sent to Nagoya.
There was one bright spot for Pakistan on the same day. The national men’s volleyball team beat China 3-0 to win bronze, which was the country’s first Asian Games medal in volleyball since 1962. For wrestling, the lesson from the Games may be that regular camps abroad and more tournaments will be needed if Pakistan wants to compete with Japan, Iran, Kazakhstan and other leading teams.
Conclusion: What Comes Next
The federation is expected to review the results, and officials may talk about the preparation and funding for the next cycle. Younger wrestlers who travelled to the training camp in Russia, such as Hasan Ali and Abdul Rahman, could get more chances in future events.
Fans will also be watching to see whether Inayat Ullah, who has experience at the Commonwealth and Youth Olympic level, and Muhammad Gulzar get new opportunities to show their skills. Further updates on Pakistan’s performance at the Games and on the federation’s plans will follow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there any Pakistani wrestler in WWE?
As far as I know, there is no widely recognised Pakistani-born wrestler who has been a regular star on WWE’s main roster. Pakistan has a strong tradition in traditional wrestling, known as kushti or pehlwani, and legendary names like the Bholu brothers and Gama Pehlwan are remembered as heroes. In the late 2000s, WWE also featured a character called Muhammad Hassan, but he was played by an American performer and not by a Pakistani wrestler. Pakistani athletes like Inayat Ullah, Muhammad Gulzar and Muhammad Inam compete in amateur freestyle wrestling, which is different from the scripted entertainment style of WWE. Anyone who wants to confirm the current WWE roster should check the company’s official website.
Who is a Punjabi WWE wrestler?
One of the best-known Punjabi wrestlers in WWE is Jinder Mahal, a Canadian wrestler of Punjabi Sikh descent. He became WWE Champion in 2017 and is one of the few wrestlers of Indian heritage to win the top title. Other Punjabi Canadian wrestlers, including the brothers Gurv and Harv Sihra, have also performed in WWE as the tag team Indus Sher. The Great Khali, who is Indian, is often linked with Punjabi fans but is from Himachal Pradesh, so he is not usually described as Punjabi. Rosters change often, so the best way to know who is currently signed is to check the latest WWE announcements.
Who is an Indian girl wrestler?
India has produced several famous women wrestlers. Sakshi Malik won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and was the first Indian woman to win an Olympic wrestling medal. Vinesh Phogat is another well-known name and became widely known after reaching the final at the 2024 Paris Olympics before she was disqualified for being overweight. The Phogat sisters, Geeta and Babita, are also famous and inspired the film Dangal. In the WWE, Kavita Devi became known as the first Indian woman to compete in the company’s events. Because careers and rankings change quickly, readers should check the United World Wrestling website for current athletes and results.
