Ather Zahid 29 is going to meet his Indian counterpart in a mega competition for the first time. He will participate in Orbit competition to be held in Karachi where he will defend his title.

Key Member of this team are  former WWE US Champion Kalisto has been a pivotal member as coach. Kalisto brings a wealth of technical wrestling knowledge and experience from his career in WWE. 

Competing against Indian wrestlers presents several challenges, including their technical expertise in traditional wrestling styles like Kushti and their strong emphasis on physical conditioning and endurance

To overcome the unique styles and techniques of Indian wrestlers, he planned to study and understand their traditional wrestling techniques such as Kushti, enhance my own physical conditioning and endurance, and adapt my strategy to counter their grappling expertise.

Telling about his interest in wrestling, he said, “Basically my father used to watch wrestling during the era of VCR cassettes. I have been interested in wrestling since my childhood. Whenever wrestling was on TV, it was like a festival in our house, so from there, my interest developed into a desire to become a wrestler.

To a question about early life, Ather told, he was born in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, and at the age of 10, we shifted to the city Dammam, where he did his schooling at Monadi Al Khaleej International School in Dammam. He was popular among teachers and students for his fighting in the school. “I never had any friends in my childhood whose goal was to be a wrestler like mine, I was always all alone in this ambition” he said. 

Interest

Telling about the inspirations growing up, in wrestling, he said, “My role model was Shawn Michaels while growing up. His matches were a source of inspiration and motivation for me to pursue my wrestling dreams.”

He added it feels amazing, becoming a champion is an incredible feeling after dedicating so much effort and making numerous sacrifices. When I finally won the title, it was a mix of overwhelming joy, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment. When I won the title, I wasn’t fully conscious when the referee handed me the championship. I had all these flashbacks of everything I went through to get to that moment. It was surreal, like a rush of memories, every sacrifice, every setback, and every triumph along the way flashed before my eyes.

His hobbies or interests outside of wrestling are travelling ,watching movies, swimming, and living life to the fullest.

Ather Zahid (@atherzahidofficial) • Instagram photos and videos

 Practice

We question his practice routine leading up to important competition with Indian wrestlers.

Ather said first of all I start by researching the backgrounds and techniques of prominent Indian wrestlers to understand their strengths and strategies, then I focus on strength training, endurance exercises, and flexibility drills tailored to wrestling movements.”

Regarding what specific training techniques have Ather focused on for this event, he said “  I’ve dedicated time to drilling fundamental wrestling techniques such as single-leg and double-leg takedowns, various types of escapes, and effective pinning combinations. Strength and conditioning, flexibility and mobility, strategy development.”

 He has dedicated 5 hours of practice and training every day. A typical training session includes 3 hours of ring training and 2 hours of gym which includes a combination of cardio workouts, strength training, technique drills, and sparring.

Diet and Nutrition 

Ather added he took around  4500 calories a day. This included intake of 350 grams of protein, 450 grams of carbohydrates and 100 grams of fats, like 1 kg of chicken breast, 20 eggs, protein shakes, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, nuts, avocado, and olive oil and some supplements as well.

To balance physical and mental aspects, he said “I follow a structured training schedule, collaborate with my coach and mentors for guidance, and prioritise recovery and rest to ensure optimal performance and injury prevention.”

Challenges

Talking about challenges in games he said “backstage politics, it has been a first and learning experience for me. There are often dynamics and rivalries that extend beyond the ring, influencing opportunities for a professional wrestler. Overcoming these challenges involves maintaining professionalism, delivering my best performance despite the external factors.”

To a question about support from fan, he said “I just wanna say to my fans your unwavering support fuels my determination to overcome any obstacles Together, we can rise above any adversity”. 

“Stay strong, stay positive, and wanna thank you for being the driving force behind my journey in the ring.”

Telling about his family, Ather said “Family is everything” He said my family and friends play a crucial role in keeping my spirits up during intense training periods. They celebrate my successes, both big and small, which reinforces my commitment and dedication to achieving my goals in wrestling.

Future Goals

Achieving many championship titles, I aim to compete at the highest levels of wrestling championship titles in national and international competitions. I was representing my country in prestigious wrestling tournaments. Continuous improvement, wrestling is a sport that demands continuous improvement. My goal is to evolve my technical skills, and physical conditioning consistently. Overall, my long-term goals in wrestling are anchored in excellence, personal growth, and positively impacting the sport.