Owais Yaqoob: Pulwama's MMA Hero Returns Home After Bulgaria Win Kashmiri mixed martial arts fighter Owais Yaqoob returned to his hometown of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, greeted as a hero after securing a decisive victory over Bulgarian opponent Delyan Georgiev in a recent match. The win, which drew over 1.6 million live viewers in India, marked a significant milestone in Yaqoob’s career and reignited national pride. The 28-year-old, known for his resilience and determination, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from fans across the country. Yaqoob’s triumph in Bulgaria came despite facing multiple health challenges leading up to the fight. He revealed that he had suffered a foot injury, a shoulder injury, and a fever, compounded by a cold, all of which he kept hidden from his team to avoid being perceived as making excuses. “When I left from here, first, I had an injury in the foot, and then my shoulder got injured. After that, we went and travelled for 40 hours, and as soon as I reached the fight week, I got a fever and a cold,” he explained. Yaqoob emphasized that his focus remained on the competition, stating, “Our focus remains on the fact that we are still hungry and we need to do more.” The victory was not only a personal achievement but also a moment of collective celebration for the nation. Yaqoob highlighted the emotional connection he felt with his supporters, noting that their encouragement fueled his training and ambition. “Their emotions are connected to me, and that is a huge achievement. People give me the motivation to train,” he said. He also expressed excitement about his upcoming match in Istanbul, where he will compete in a grappling event featuring major UFC fighters.#jammu_and_kashmir #bulgaria #owais_yaqoob #pulwama #delyan_georgiev
