'Truly Inspiring' - Akshay Kumar applauds Madhya Pradesh’s Golden Boy Sohail Khan after Kudo World Cup silver

Sohail Khan is a 22-time National Kudo Gold Medallist.

India’s celebrated martial-arts athlete and Madhya Pradesh’s pride, Sohail Khan, popularly known as the “Golden Boy of MP,” has once again brought honour to the nation by winning a historic Silver Medal at the Kudo World Cup 2025 held in Bulgaria.

Recognising his outstanding international performance, Sohail Khan and his coach Dr Mohammad Aijaz Khan were felicitated by Bollywood megastar Akshay Kumar, along with Dimple Kapadia and Jackie Shroff, in a special ceremony celebrating India’s excellence in Kudo.

National Recognition for a Global Achievement

At the felicitation event, Akshay Kumar—who has long promoted martial arts and Kudo in India—commended Sohail Khan for his consistency, discipline, and dedication to representing the tricolour on the world stage.

He praised the athlete as “a true inspiration for India’s next generation of fighters who believe that hard work and perseverance can overcome every obstacle.”

The ceremony also honoured Dr Mohammad Aijaz Khan, Sohail’s personal coach, for his years of mentoring and technical guidance that have helped elevate Indian Kudo to international prominence.Dr Khan remarked, “Sohail’s journey proves that with hard work, humility, and belief, talent from even the smallest towns can rise to the world stage.”

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A Message of Inspiration from Sohail Khan

Addressing young athletes across the country, Sohail Khan said, “It doesn’t matter where you come from — what matters is where you reach.

Whether you are from a small town or a village like me from Sagar, you just need to know your destination, work hard, stay consistent, and remain humble.”

His words have resonated with aspiring sportsmen nationwide, reinforcing the spirit of determination and self-belief among India’s youth.

Asian Kudo Championship 2025 – Representing India with Honour

Following his World Cup success, Sohail Khan represented India at the Asian Kudo Championship 2025, held in Tokyo, Japan, from 1 to 5 November 2025.

Also Read: Sohail Khan climbs to Asia No.2 ahead of Kudo Asian Championship

Demonstrating exceptional skill and composure, he advanced to the quarter-finals, narrowly losing 1–0 to Japan in a tightly contested match.

His performance earned appreciation from international officials and reaffirmed India’s growing stature in the sport.

Major Career Achievements of Sohail Khan:

• World Champion – 2017 (Kudo World Cup)
• Historic Silver Medal – Kudo World Cup 2025 (Senior Category, Bulgaria)
• Six-Time International Gold Medallist
• 22-Time National Gold Medallist (KFI Ranked)*
• First Indian to Win an International Medal in Kudo (Bronze – Eurasian Cup, Armenia)
• World Ranking 12 & Asian Ranking 2 (Men’s –250 kg Category) — Highest for India
• Best Player of the Tournament – National Kudo Championships
• Represented India – Senior Kudo World Championship 2023 & Asian Championship 2025 (Tokyo)
• Appointed as Income Tax Inspector through Sports Quota

Empowering India’s Next Generation

From Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, to competing on the global Kudo stage, Sohail Khan embodies the power of dedication and humility.

Under the continued mentorship of Dr Mohammad Aijaz Khan and the leadership of Hanshi Mehul Vora, Founder and Head Coach of Kudo India, he continues to inspire and uplift young martial artists across the nation.

Sohail Khan’s story stands as living proof that dreams know no boundaries — with belief, discipline, and consistency, every Indian can reach the world stage

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