Hunza’s MMA Star Maliha Ali Advances to World Championship Quarter-Finals

Pakistan’s rising MMA fighter Maliha Ali, 24, from Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, has secured an impressive victory at the IMMAF World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, defeating Russia’s two-time European champion Veronika Drozdova by split decision.

Competing in the 65.8kg featherweight category, Maliha dominated the first two rounds before holding off her opponent’s comeback in the third. A former wushu champion and national kickboxing gold medallist, she previously won silver at the IMMAF World Cup in Angola.

With this victory, Maliha has qualified for Wednesday’s quarter-final, where she will face Mexico’s Andrea Gabriela Guzman Salazar.

Her twin sister, Manesha Ali, who won gold at the IMMAF World Cup in Angola, is also representing Pakistan and will compete against Poland’s Martyna Caruk. Both sisters are aiming to make history for Pakistan on the international MMA stage.