ISLAMABAD: Badshah Pehalwan Khan, a French wrestler of Pakistani origin, hopes the international wrestling competitions planned to be staged in Pakistan later this year will be successful.

Badshah, whose family migrated from Wah Cantonment area of district Rawalpindi several decades ago, however, still holds the love for Pakistan.

Born in France in 1993, Badshah is a promising wrestling star of Europe. He is the only wrestler of Pakistani descent who had applied for WWE Tough Enough, a platform wherein participants undergo professional training and compete for contract with WWE. However, he could not qualify for WWE.

Currently, Badshah is associated with Catch wrestling star, one of the leading European wrestling companies.

“I’m not disappointed; I’ll again apply for WWE,” he told Dawn here in Islamabad.

Badshah is in Pakistan for a few days to participate in various ceremonies related to an upcoming professional wrestling event — the first ever in Pakistan.

An Islamabad-based private company named Mass Com Solutions, in collaboration with a European organisation ‘Star Wrestling’, is all set to host in Pakistan professional wrestling competitions featuring besides other international contestants, former star Flesh Gordon, European champion Tinoy Iron and Badshah.

The competitions are slated to be staged in various cities including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala from Nov 29 to Dec 8.

According to Badshah, over 20 international wrestlers are expected to participate in the event.

“I hope this event will be held in Pakistan smoothly. There is no security issue here, as depicted by [some sections of] media. Pakistani fans have very right to enjoy the [wrestling] entertainment,” Badshah said, adding that the mega wrestling event in Pakistan will pave the way for reviving international sports in the country.

“I’m sure this event, besides promoting wrestling, will play a significant role in restoration of international sports in Pakistan,” he said.

Gordon, who along with Iron is accompanying Badshah, said the event will be organised in Pakistan in a befitting manner.

“[Currently] we are facing law and order situation in France, but it doesn’t mean we are not organising international events there,” said Gordon, adding that international wrestlers are keen to visit Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2016