MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The 35th National Games are scheduled in Karachi from May 1st to 9th. With the event around the corner, martial arts trials were held on Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Muzaffarabad, where athletes from across Azad Kashmir competed for selection to represent the region.
Trials for the selection of Azad Kashmir’s martial arts contingent for the 35th National Games were held on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at the Sports Complex Jalalabad, Muzaffarabad. The National Games will occur from May 1st to 9th, 2025, in Karachi which serves as the provincial capital of Sindh.
Athletic participants from across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) attended trials for martial arts events that included Taekwondo, Wushu together with Judo and Karate alongside Wrestling. Participants flooded into the event because they wanted to qualify for the regional squad which would determine participation in the national competition.
The trials received oversight from both officials from sports associations and employees of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sports Board. The selection process was overseen by a panel of experienced selectors comprising Raja Aftab Siddique, Irfan Mughal, Muhammad Shafiq, and Farooq Mir.
On behalf of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Sports Board, monitoring duties were carried out by Iftikhar Sadiq, Deputy Director Sports Board; Sohrab Aslam, Sports Officer/Assistant Director Sports Board; Ashfaq Sularia, Sports Officer/Assistant Director Sports Board; and Rizwan Razi, In-charge of the Sports Complex Jalalabad.
Professional athletes participated in competitive matches to determine which players would join the Azad Kashmir teams for respective disciplines. The selection process evaluated athletes through trial demonstrations of their performance capabilities and skills as well as their demonstrated potential.
These chosen athletes will display their martial arts expertise to the best contenders in Pakistan while serving as representatives of Azad Kashmir during national competitions. Through the trials, the organizers sought to establish a robust team and boost martial arts development capability in their region of Azad Kashmir.
