India’s rising martial arts star Sohail Khan, widely celebrated as the “Golden Boy of Madhya Pradesh,” continues his meteoric rise in global Kudo. The 26-year-old athlete recently clinched a historic Silver medal at the Kudo World Cup 2025 in Bulgaria – one of the biggest international victories for India in the sport.
In recognition of this landmark achievement, Sohail Khan and his personal coach Dr. Mohammad Aijaz Khan were felicitated by Bollywood icons Akshay Kumar, Dimple Kapadia, and Jackie Shroff in Mumbai, where the trio celebrated India’s advancement in world Kudo.
Akshay Kumar, a long-time promoter of martial arts and Kudo in India, praised Sohail for his discipline, resilience, and unwavering commitment to representing India on the global stage. He also stated that Sohail is “A living example of what dedication can achieve. He is the face of India’s new generation of fighters.”
Dimple Kapadia and Jackie Shroff also congratulated Sohail and applauded the efforts of his coach, Dr. Mohammad Aijaz Khan, for shaping a world-class athlete from the heart of Madhya Pradesh.
Strong Performance at the Asian Kudo Championship 2025, Tokyo
Soon after his World Cup triumph, Sohail was selected to represent Team India at the Asian Kudo Championship 2025, held in Tokyo from 1-5 November 2025. Displaying remarkable technique and composure, Sohail advanced to the Quarter-finals, where he lost narrowly to Japan (1-0) in a close tactical bout.
Career Highlights:
- World Champion – 2017 (Kudo World Cup)
- Silver Medal – Kudo World Cup 2025 (Senior Category, Bulgaria)
- Six International Gold Medals
- 22 National Gold Medals
- First Indian to Win an International Kudo Medal (Bronze – Eurasian Cup, Armenia)
- World Rank 12 | Asian Rank 2 (–250 kg category) (KFI Ranked) – India’s highest ranking
- Best Player – National Kudo Championships
- Represented India – World Championship 2023 & Asian Championship 2025
- Income Tax Inspector (Sports Quota)
Sohail Khan motivated the youth by sharing an inspirational message – “It doesn’t matter where you come from – what matters is where you reach. I come from a small town like Sagar. What took me forward was hard work, consistency and staying humble.”
His words have struck a chord with athletes across India, especially those rising from smaller districts and rural regions.
