Saleem Sadiq

Khwaja Muhammad Saleem Sadiq, (August 27, 1929-October 31, 1999) was a pioneer of wrestling in Pakistan. He was a secretary to the Pakistan Wrestling Federation and manager to Bholu Brothers, one of the most popular wrestling teams in Pakistan.
Life and career
Sadiq was born in Amritsar.
In his school life, he was the captain of the Government College Amritsar hockey team. After the Partition of India, he moved to Pakistan where he met The Great Gama and Imam Baksh Pahalwan along with the other wrestling figures and took the challenge of uplifting the age-old art of wrestling.
In 1952, he arranged bout between the top local wrestlers, Hameeda and Bholu Pahalwan. Khwaja Nazimuddin, then Governor-General of Pakistan, was the chief guest of this match. In 1953, with the invasion of free style wrestling, Saleem organized series of bouts between the Bholu brothers and the wrestling giants of the west like Bill Verna and Ski Hi Lee.
During the late 60s and the early 70s, Saleem 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. 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. Saleem toured Europe multiple times with the Bholu brothers where he organized bouts in collaboration with Orig Williams, the famous British wrestling promoter. He held meetings with Hisashi Shinma, a figurehead president of World Wrestling Federation.
Saleem invited Japanese wrestling king Antonio Inoki twice to Pakistan. The bout with Akram Pahalwan in National Stadium, Karachi and then with Jhara Pahalwan in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore drew record crowds. Saleem also invited the Indian wrestler, Tiger Jeet Singh, to Pakistan. In the 1980s, he toured UAE with the famous Pakistani wrestler, Nasir Bholu, the son of legendary Bholu Pahalwan. 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 interviewed by Pakistan Television Corporation and Radio Pakistan. He also appeared on the South American Channels and was interviewed by The Ring Magazine on his trip to America. Saleem brought out a quarterly magazine called 'Sports Review' to project his love for wrestling and other sports. Lateef Jafri, senior sports correspondent of Dawn, hailed him as a thorough gentleman.
Major General Mujeeb ur Rehman, former secretary Ministry of Information and Chairman PTV once 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 sport figures and patrons, former Defense Secretary Aftab Ahmed Khan, his long time friend and famous banker Humayun Sadiq, former Mohtasib-e-Ala Mr. Waseem, commissioner Mr. Sardar, close friend Mr. Mueed, Abid Islam Butt, Grand Master Ashraf Tai, renowned sports writer from Daily Jang Mr. Shams ul Zaman and others attended his funeral to pay their respects.

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