A New Era on the Mat: Inam Butt’s Rise! Open Trials, and a Roadmap for Wrestling’s Revival
By Sports Friend, Shahid Ulhaq
A New Era on the Mat: Inam Butt’s Rise! Open Trials, and a Roadmap for Wrestling’s Revival
By Sports Friend, Shahid Ulhaq
Pakistan wrestling is turning a page. With “Muhammad Inam Butt”—a decorated athlete and now the newly elected Secretary General of the “Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF)”—stepping into leadership, there is finally a credible bridge between the akhara and the boardroom. His appointment for the 2025–29 term signals generational change and an athlete-first mindset that the sport has long needed.
The PWF has announced open trials for the World Islamic Games 2025, scheduled for 12 September 2025 at Sports Complex Akhara Inam Butt, Sheikhupura Road, Gujranwala.
The weight classes are 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, and 97kg, with a margin of plus or minus two kilograms. Entries must be submitted by 10 September through affiliated units and departments, and recommendations are required. Only recommended athletes, coaches and officials will be entertained.
The Federation has assured that the trials will be conducted transparently, with merit as the only standard, free from favoritism or external influence.
Inam Butt himself is not just another official. He is a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist, a silver medalist, and the 2019 World Beach Wrestling champion. He has proven his ability to perform under pressure at international events.
Beyond his medals, he serves as Chairman of the Athletes’ Commission at the Pakistan Olympic Association and is highly educated, holding an MBA and a sports sciences background. This rare combination of athletic success, governance experience, and education places him in a strong position to bring genuine change to wrestling.
Pakistan’s wrestling heritage is a proud one. Since the formation of the Federation in 1953, wrestling has consistently brought glory to the nation, particularly in the Commonwealth Games.
The unforgettable sweep at Perth in 1962, when Pakistani wrestlers won seven gold medals, still stands as a shining example of our dominance.
The country also cherishes its sole Olympic wrestling medal, Muhammad Bashir’s bronze at Rome in 1960. Wrestling remains one of Pakistan’s most productive sports in terms of international success, but the challenge has always been to sustain that legacy.
Of course, the road has not been without stumbles. Administrative mishaps have damaged the sport’s image, such as the 2023 visa and travel debacle that saw the national team deported from Almaty and forced to miss the Asian Championships.
Doping scandals, including the Ali Asad case in which a Commonwealth Games bronze was lost, exposed weaknesses in athlete education and oversight. More recently, Pakistan skipped the Asian and World Championships in 2025 due to lack of funding and preparation camps. These episodes highlight the urgent need for professionalism and planning.
This is where Inam Butt’s leadership can make a difference. Transparent trials, zero tolerance on doping, better travel planning, proper training camps, and proactive engagement with sponsors and authorities are the building blocks required for Pakistan to rise again in wrestling. Inam, with his credibility among both athletes and officials, is in a unique position to align all sides.
If the upcoming trials are conducted as promised, they will not only select the best athletes but also serve as a statement of intent. For wrestlers, it will mean that merit is the only key to success. For officials, it will be an example of discipline and structure. And for the public, it will restore confidence that the Federation is serious about good governance and future success.
Pakistan has the raw talent and a wrestling culture rooted in tradition. What has been missing is structure and integrity. If Inam Butt and his team stay the course, the memories of past glories will no longer just be history but the foundation for a new chapter in Pakistan wrestling.
Shahid Ulhaq is Senior Sports Jurnalist and writer | Sports Philanthropist | Development Director – Operations Pro Wrestling Entertainment PWE| CEO & Host – SPOFIT YouTube Channel
Email: spofit@gmail.com Cell: +92-333-5161425 YouTube: www.youtube.com/spofit
