Saleem Sadiq

Khwaja Muhammad Saleem Sadiq pioneer wrestling promoter of Pakistan.

Khwaja Muhammad Saleem Sadiq was born in Amritsar on August 27, 1929. He was Secreatary 'All Pakistan Wrestling Federation' and manager to Bholu Brothers. The star wrestling team of Pakistan.

In his school life he was captin of Government College Amritsar hockey team. After partition he moved to Pakistan where he met the invincible Gama and Imam Bux along with other wrestling figures and took the challenge of uplifting the age-old art of wrestling.

In 1952 he arranged bout between top wizards of wrestling viz. Hameeda and Bholu. Khwaja Nazimuddin, the Governor General, was the chief guest of this match. In 1953, with the invasion of free style wrestling, Saleem organized series of bouts between Bholu brothers and wrestling giants of west like BillVaran and Wan Buck Lee.

Bholu brothers were great in art of traditional Desi wrestling. Saleem Sadiq booked Kid Zamboa of Cuba to train them in free style wrestling. This was followed by tours of Pakistani wrestlers to Europe, America, Africa and India arranged through correspondence by Saleem Sadiq. At the alien squared ring, the Pakistanis won the applause of crowd as well as the media with their traditional holds combined with free style tactics.He toured Europe multiple times with Bholu brothers where he organized bouts in collabration with Orig William, the famous British wrestling promoter. He held meetings with Hisanshi Shimma, president World-wide wrestling federation.

Saleem Sadiq invited Japanese wrestling king Antonio Inoki twice to Pakistan. The bout with Akram in National Stadium, Karachi and then with Jhara in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore drew record crowds. In 1980s he toured UAE with the prince of Pakistan wrestling, Nasir Bholu, the son of legendary Bholu Pehlwan. Besides wrestling, Saleem made valuable contributions to Martial Arts in Pakistan by promoting Grand Master Ashraf Tai.

Saleem played key role in the history of Pakistani wrestling. On numerous occasions he was interviwed by Pakistan television and radio. He also appeared on South American channels and was interviwed by 'Ring' magazine on his trip to America.

He was well-respected for being fair and open in the sports circle of Pakistan. He strongly believed sportsmen to be ambassadors of their country and always acted in the best interest of Pakistan, maintaing honor and dignity. He even brought out a quarterly magazine 'Sports Review' to project his love for sports.Lateef Jafri, senior sports correspondent Dawn hailed him as a thorough gentelman.

Major General Mujeeb ur Rehman, former secretary ministry of information and chairman PTV onse said, ' Mr. Saleem Sadiq has done a lot in promoting this game in Pakistan. I wish there were more like him so that people here could see some of the best wrestlers in the world play in Pakistan.'

Muhammad Saleem Sadiq died on October 31 1999. Prominent sports figures and patrons, former Defense secretary Aftab Ahmed Khan, his long time friend and famous banker Hummayun Sadiq, former mutasab-e-ala Mr.Waseem, commissioner Mr.Sardar, close friend Mr.Mueed, Abid Islam Butt, Grand Master Ashraf Tai, renowned sports writer from Jang Mr. Shams ul Zaman and many more attended his funeral to pay tribute to the legendary wrestling organizer of Pakistan.