We sat down with Syed Muhammed Qaim Abass Naqvi to talk about a journey that’s anything but ordinary.
From medicine and sports to entrepreneurship, Qaim has built a name for himself across very different worlds. We got personal, discussing his journey, setbacks, inspirations, friendships, and of course, his experience at the recent Realwld event.
Here are 20 questions with Qaim Abbas:
Q1. For someone meeting you for the first time, how would you introduce yourself beyond the titles of future doctor, athlete, and entrepreneur?
Ans. Thank you for having me. It sounds cringe, but I always wanted to do this as a kid, so it feels really weird. My name is Qaim Abass. I was born in Lahore in 2001. I’m a fourth-year medical student living in Hungary, pursuing my MD. I’m also an active athlete who competes internationally in amateur MMA and kickboxing.
I’m one of the youngest operations and creative leads for an international MMA organisation. As you know, I co-founded Realwld at 18 and continue to lead it today with an incredible team.
Q2. What is Realwld about?
Ans. Realwld is a platform where people who want to try or compete in combat sports are given a safe environment. From kids from privileged backgrounds to those who don’t come from privilege, influencers, and everyone in between, people get to test themselves through sport and build character.
We are sanctioned by the Pakistan MMA Federation, and for our work and impact, we were nominated in Georgia for the Sustainability Award at the IMMAF Awards, making us the only fight league movement in South Asia to receive global recognition.
Q3. Medicine is incredibly demanding field. What has it taught you about discipline and resilience?
Ans. If I had a dollar for every time I was asked this question, I’d be a billionaire by now! But honestly, it has been challenging. That’s the thing about challenging things they push you towards evolution.
Nothing is easy. My only superpower is that I keep going. Failure? I keep going. It gets lonely? I keep going. I never quit in any of the three.
Q4. How does it feel to be away from home?
Ans. I don’t believe home is a place. I believe home is whatever you make it to be.
I’ve been living in Europe for almost half a decade, so technically, I guess that’s home. But I travel a lot and come back to Pakistan twice a year for work, so I don’t really get homesick. Both places demand a different version of me, and I’m comfortable becoming both.
Q5. Have you ever felt like you were taking on too much?
Ans. I actually come from chaos, so noise and pressure feel like home to me. I don’t like it when things get too quiet.
These aren’t tasks to me; they’re a calling. Of course, I like to rest too, but I love socialising, making friends, going out, and having adventures.
Q6. How has working with the Pakistan MMA Federation shaped you?
Ans. The Pakistan MMA Federation has completely changed the landscape of MMA in Pakistan under the presidentship of Omer Ahmed. Over the last five years, we’ve sent athletes from across Pakistan to world championships and professional fight leagues, hosted local and international events, and organised the biggest MMA event in Pakistan’s history the IMMAF Asian Championships.
We’ve created pathways for athletes at every level, and I genuinely believe a sporting revolution is coming to Pakistan.
Working at such a young age and being the youngest person in many of these rooms has made me a very confident person. These have been some of the most challenging yet rewarding years of my life, and I’m forever grateful.
Q7. Tell us about your athletic career.
Ans. Calling it a career is a stretch because I do it for the fun and the thrill. I love the sport.
I’ve had several fights and became the first to defeat England in amateur MMA in 2023 at 70.4kg. I’ve also competed against the European Junior Hungarian Judo Champion at 74.5kg and defeated Romania under K1 rules earlier this year at 77kg.
That gives me three international amateur wins across three different weight classes. But it means nothing if I don’t win at the World Championships. That’s the goal for the end of this year.
Q8. Has your faith helped you through difficult times?
Ans. Of course. I believe in the power of Allah. Without His will, no matter how hard I work, it won’t happen.
If He sees good in your intentions, He will give you tenfold. Alhamdulillah for everything. He has saved and guided me throughout my life.
Q9. What would people be surprised to know about you?
Ans. My passion is writing, not fighting, medicine, sport, or even operations. I want to become a New York Times bestseller.
Q10. What genuinely makes you happy?
Ans. None of my achievements make me happy because when your worth depends on those things, your journey will be short-lived.
I get my happiness from writing, my friends, my family, laughter, and memories. Discipline and disruption should coexist.
Q11. What would you tell your 18-year-old self?
Ans. It gets better. Everything does. Don’t quit.
Q12. What have you had to unlearn?
Ans. People-pleasing, over-explaining myself to people who don’t deserve it, and accepting that it’s okay to be the villain.
People will see you how they want to see you. As long as your conscience is clear, just relax. Time filters everything.
Q13. Do you think success changes friendships or reveals who was genuine?
Ans. I think it’s deeper than that. It’s human nature. People don’t always want to see you doing better than them because their worth is attached to what they achieve.
For me, success is about how many people I can inspire, help, or make better. The less you respond or react in life, the more fun it becomes. I just like to enjoy life. I don’t really care who’s fake or real it’s never that deep.
Q14. Have you ever been in love?
Ans. Next question, please!
Q15. What does love mean to you, and when would you want to settle down?
Ans. Love is all around us in nature, our friends, and our faith.
But seriously, don’t put me on the spot like that! I believe good human beings settle down when they’re ready to be unselfish. I’m selfish with all my journeys right now, and I don’t see myself slowing down, so there’s no point in thinking about it.
Q16. Who is your biggest role model?
Ans. I don’t really believe in role models. I believe in mentors and people who make you see life differently.
I didn’t really grow up with a father, so my mother has been my biggest inspiration. She started from nothing, supported her children, and is now a top 100 women entrepreneur in Pakistan.
Omar Ahmad, the President of Pakistan MMA, also gave me a chance as a young kid. What he has taught me outside of work has been life-changing. I owe him so much.
I’m also constantly learning from the doctors I’ve had the opportunity to work and intern with, including Dr Umer Butt in orthopaedic surgery and Dr Cheema in nephrology.
Q17. What has been your toughest injury?
Ans. I’ve had many injuries, from broken hands to muscle and ligament injuries, but the worst was a whiplash injury. I almost broke my neck and was temporarily paralysed from my left arm down.
Alhamdulillah, I recovered from it. Until I die, there won’t be a thought in my mind that I can’t do something, God willing.
Q18. Who has influenced your ambition the most?
Ans. Everyone has played their role, but at the core, it’s for the child in me. I do it to always remind myself of where I started.
Q19. What did the recent Realwld event mean to you?
Ans. It was massive. From social media to participation, we crossed 30 million engagements on my account alone and over 100 million collectively.
Five cities competed, with participants ranging from influencers and doctors to future world champions. This sport is for everyone.
No individual makes history alone. The team I work with is world-class, and everyone plays their role flawlessly. There are too many people to name, but a big shoutout to Omar, Musa, Hamza, Mutahir, and the entire team at Brave Gym.
Together, we are strong, and together, we continue to set the bar.
Q20. What do you hope for in the next chapter of your life?
Ans. I don’t think too much about tomorrow. I think I’ve figured out my rhythm.
But to anyone going through a difficult time or chasing something: be brave. The world will call you names, bully you, discredit you, misunderstand you, and judge you.
It’s not about talent or luck. It’s about having an internal flame so strong that nothing in the world can get you off track.
And if you do crack, it’s your responsibility to help others become stronger too. Filter out the noise. The quality of your life depends on you.
Take responsibility. The world is your oyster.
His Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/qaim_abass?igsi=dno5M2ZzNXRjaG0x
