The 22-time winner earns Rs 1,000 by lifting a marble, hopes for a government job to build an academy for tribal youth
Rizwan Pathan with winning shields. PHOTO: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
By day, Rizwan Pathan, 27, carries heavy slabs of marble to a factory, barely earning enough to feed his children. At night, despite his aching limbs and exhaustion, he goes to the sports field to train.
“I work so that my children don’t sleep hungry,” he says. “And I train so that the athlete in me doesn’t die.”
Rizwan is not just a simple worker. He is a 22-time winner in mixed martial arts and gymnastics. However, his daily salary does not exceed 1,000 rupees, and on days when power cuts interrupt factory work, he sometimes earns nothing at all.
A refugee’s road to the ring
Rizwan’s story begins in Bajaur. In 2008, following military operations against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, his family was forced to move to Nowshera before finally settling in a rented house in Mardan.
What seemed like a hardship at the time turned into what Rizwan calls a “blessing in disguise.” Watching karate and gymnastics videos with a friend sparked a dream in him. “That’s when I decided to become an athlete,” he recalls.
However, obstacles appeared early on. When Rizwan tried to register for a sports gala, he was told that participants from the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) were not eligible. Determined, he borrowed a friend’s Form B (an official document for registering children under 18), without even a photo, entered and won the competition.
He then returned the certificate to his friend. “What would I do with this paper?” he said, adding that without any cash reward it would be pointless.
Shoes, scrap and combat
As financial pressures increased, Rizwan moved to Peshawar, where he shined shoes on the streets and worked in hotels to support his family. Evening shifts also meant free meals; a plus.
Although he continued to win competitions, his passion for martial arts was mocked. “The hotel owner said: you are a lazy person. These kicks will not feed your stomach,” Rizwan recalls.
But the kicking continued, whether on the training pitch, in competition or in life.
From Peshawar, Rizwan’s struggle took him to Punjab. There, he pushed a scrap metal cart to provide shelter for his family. The business helped him survive, but the debts persist.
Lend with an empty pocket
Despite his own struggles, Rizwan’s commitment to the sport extends beyond himself. Unable to watch another athlete’s dreams crumble due to poverty, he took out a loan to help a young boxer from Bajaur compete. Part of this loan remains unpaid, but he has no regrets.
“If one athlete elevates, the whole area elevates,” he says.
A job, a dream, an academy
It is not glory or charity that the worker-athlete wants. His desire is simple: a stable job within the government that allows him to provide for his family and devote time to building a sports academy. His dream is to bring young people from the erstwhile FATA region to sports – directing them towards discipline, opportunities and positive engagement.
From lifting marble stones by day to throwing punches by night, Rizwan continues to fight, not only for medals, but also for dignity, survival and the next generation of athletes.
