Guangzhou, China, July 14, 2026: Muhammad Inam Butt gave a lot to wrestling in Pakistan during a distinguished career.
Now it is time to give something back – and more.
Muhammad, 37, is attending the OCA-UWW Asian Wrestling Youth Camp and Course for Coaches at Guangzhou Polytechnic of Sports in his capacity as coach of two athletes from Pakistan.
It wasn’t that long ago when he was winning a silver medal for Pakistan at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China – to go with his gold from the 2016 ABG in Vietnam and bronze from the 2014 ABG in Thailand.
“It’s quite difficult to leave professional wrestling but I am very fortunate I can serve my nation,” he says.
“I have over 100 students in a wrestling academy in my hometown Gujranwala, which is known as the ‘city of wrestling’, and I support the wrestlers with gear and sometimes with food. It is a very big honour for me,” adds Muhammad, who also won two gold medals and one silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the Commonwealth Games as well as the ANOC World Beach Games gold at Doha 2019.
His other roles include the position of Secretary General of the Pakistan Wrestling Federation and Chair of the Athletes Commission of the Pakistan Olympic Association – a role in which he is thriving.
“Since 2018 we have organised more than 15 workshops and forums with the help of the IOC and OCA,” he says.
“We have focused on education, Olympic values, safeguarding, nutrition and several other important subjects.
“Thanks to the activities of the Athletes Commission, 18 National Federations have established their own athletes commission and hold their own courses and activities. This is a big step forward for the different sports and the Olympic movement in Pakistan.”
Muhammad estimates there are 50,000 wrestlers in Pakistan, many of them starting from childhood by wrestling on the mud in their local village. This style, he says, transfers more easily to the sand than the mat.
“Although I started wrestling when I was 13, I had wrestled with my father at home since I was four or five. My father and grandfather were wrestlers, and in my home town you can find four or five generations are wrestlers.”
With over 100 level two coaches and over 400 level one coaches in the country, Muhammad is optimistic that Pakistan can produce world-class wrestlers in the future, especially with a national talent identification programme in place.
If Pakistan can achieve this, it will be more than likely that they will have been coached by Muhammad Inam Butt.
