Pakistan’s Malaika Noor makes history with silver at Asian Judo Championship

Dubai: Pakistani judoka Malaika Noor has etched her name in the history books by clinching a silver medal at the Amman Asian Open Judo Championship 2025.

She becomes the first Pakistani woman to reach the podium in an Asian-level judo competition.

Competing in the 52kg category, the 20-year-old displayed outstanding skill and determination. She stormed into the final after a commanding victory over Jordan’s Raneem Aljazazi in the semi-final. In the final match, she faced a tough challenge from a Saudi opponent. Despite a valiant effort, Noor narrowly missed the gold, settling for silver, a historic and proud moment for Pakistan, Geo TV reported.

This breakthrough marks a significant milestone not just in Noor’s career but also for women’s sports in Pakistan, especially in martial arts and contact sports. Her success is seen as a source of inspiration for young female athletes across the country.

Noor had previously represented Pakistan at the World Junior Judo Championship in Dushanbe in 2024, and she has steadily built a reputation as one of the country’s most promising judokas.

The Pakistan Judo Federation, led by President Col. Junaid Alam, lauded her achievement. “This is a proud moment for the nation, and Malaika’s performance is a beacon of hope for future athletes,” he said in a statement.

In addition to Malaika’s landmark silver, several other Pakistani judokas showed promise at the Amman event.

Noor Khan, 18, representing Balochistan and Pakistan Navy in the 60kg category, won his opening bout against Jordan’s Mohammad Almashaqbeh before falling to Burundi’s Raoul Brillant Nganji in the next round.

Muhammad Abbas Khalil advanced past Jordan’s Khader Alwraikat in the 73kg category but was eliminated in the pre-quarter final by Lebanon’s Ghady Moussa.

A 17-year-old debutant from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa impressed with a win over Jordan’s Mohammad Almseden before being defeated by Bahrain’s R. Poltoratskii in the Round of 16.

Malaika Noor’s groundbreaking performance not only elevates Pakistan’s standing in international judo but also underscores the growing momentum of female participation in contact sports within the country.

Her journey exemplifies the potential of young athletes in Pakistan and highlights the importance of continued support and investment in sports development.