Pakistan Athlete Maliha Ali Wins Bronze at IMMAF World Championships in Tbilisi

Pakistan representative Maliha Ali earned a bronze medal at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation World Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia. Her podium finish followed a deeply contested semifinal bout in the featherweight category, set at 65.8kg, against Russia competitor Polina Baldina. While the tournament performance marked a notable achievement for the national team, the outcome of the semifinal match triggered an immediate formal appeal from sports administrators regarding the evaluation of the bout.

The Pakistan MMA Federation registered an official complaint concerning the split-decision loss. Administrators highlighted discrepancies within the judges scorecards and questioned the standards of officiating during the high-stakes encounter. The protest brings renewed attention to the scoring processes used in international martial arts competitions and the challenges faced by athletes from nations without representation on the judging panels.

Details of the Semifinal Match Against Polina Baldina

The semifinal clash between Maliha Ali and Polina Baldina was fiercely contested from the opening bell, with neither competitor establishing a clear, undisputed dominance across all three rounds. Observers noted that Baldina held a visible advantage during the second round of the encounter. However, the first and third frames remained highly competitive and difficult to score.

During the final round, the Pakistan athlete landed cleaner strikes and expressed confidence in her performance by raising her arms at the final bell, anticipating a favorable decision. The official scorecards delivered by the judges displayed stark contradictions. One official scored the match 30-27 in favor of Baldina, a second judge scored the contest 29-28 for Maliha, and the third judge awarded a 29-28 victory to Baldina.

Pakistan MMA Federation Files Formal Appeal

Following the announcement of the result, Pakistan MMA Federation President Omar Ahmed voiced strong criticism of the verdict. He stated that Maliha had clearly won the fight and asserted that the national team had been deprived of a rightful victory. The leadership took swift action by submitting a formal appeal directed to the head of the IMMAF Refereeing and Judging Commission.

The submitted appeal requests specific reviews and administrative clarifications from the governing body. The national federation seeks the following items through the official process:

  • A detailed round-by-round scoring breakdown of the semifinal match.
  • An official explanation addressing the wide differences found among the judges scorecards.
  • A face-to-face technical review session covering both semifinal fights.

Administrators also noted a recurring pattern, pointing out that Pakistan suffered a nearly identical split-decision semifinal defeat at the previous year tournament. The federation emphasized that inconsistent explanations from officials make it difficult for national bodies to understand how their competitors are evaluated on the global stage.

Concerns Raised Over Judging Bias and Funding Disparities

Beyond the specific scorecard dispute, the leadership of the Pakistan MMA Federation raised broader structural concerns regarding international competitions. Omar Ahmed alleged that former Soviet countries tend to favor one another in judging panels and wield disproportionate influence over refereeing outcomes. He further pointed out resource disparities, noting that Russia entered two fighters in each weight category and secured a multimillion-dollar budget through national sponsors, while Pakistan had zero representatives sitting on the judging panel.

These systemic factors create an uneven playing field for athletes representing developing sports nations. Without representation among officials, smaller delegations face steep challenges in ensuring impartial oversight during tightly contested bouts against well-funded opponents.

Maliha Ali Fought Through Severe Injuries to Secure Medal

Despite the controversies and physical toll, Maliha achieved her podium finish while competing through multiple significant injuries. Her physical ailments during the tournament included a fractured toe, a severely bruised eyelid, and a partially dislocated jaw. When questioned by federation leadership about whether she could continue her tournament run, she affirmed that she fought from the heart, stating that her injured hands and feet were of secondary importance compared to representing her country.

Her path to the medal podium required defeating formidable international competitors earlier in the event. In the preliminary stages, Maliha overcame Russia representative and two-time European champion Veronika Drozdova via a split decision. She followed that performance with a unanimous-decision victory over Mexico competitor Andrea Gabriela Guzman Salazar to advance to the semifinal round.

Her semifinal opponent, 23-year-old Polina Baldina, entered the match with substantial experience, having previously captured a world title under a different mixed martial arts federation in Khanty-Mansiysk earlier in 2024, alongside three prior victories leading up to the final.

Performance of Manesha Ali and Next Steps for the Federation

The family representation in Tbilisi extended beyond Maliha, as her twin sister, Manesha Ali, also competed on the international stage. Manesha participated in the lightweight category, set at 70.3kg, and suffered a narrow split-decision defeat against Poland competitor Martyna Caruk in the quarterfinal round. Earlier in the year, Manesha earned a gold medal at the IMMAF World Cup held in Angola.

The formal appeal submitted by the Pakistan MMA Federation remains pending with international sports authorities. National sports observers and federation officials continue to monitor the situation for an official response from the governing body while awaiting feedback on the technical review request.