QUETTA: Shahzaib Rind, who recently won a global karate league, received a rapturous welcome upon his return to his native province, Balochistan, on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, provincial officials and a huge number of fans received Mr Rind at the airport after his triumph at the Karate Combat Championship.

Mr Rind be came the `Karate Combat World Lightweight Championship` after trouncing all six opponents.

After his arrival, the athlete was taken to the Chief Minister`s House, where CM Bugti congratulated him on his feat and assured him of the government`s full support.

Provincial Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, CM`s Advisor on Sports and Youth Affairs Meena Majeed, and others praised Mr Rind on his `impressive achievements`.

In his message, Mr Rind expressed his joy at the reception after the `disappointment` of a tepid welcome in Islamabad.He recalled facing one of the toughest fighters in his recent match but said he managed to secure the victory through `determination`. He recalled the start of his karate career from a small club, adding that his dream is to create more opportunities for the youth.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Youth Programme`s chairman, Rana Mashood, has called Mr Rind a `nationalhero` whose victory is a source of pride for the nation.

While speaking at a ceremony at Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences, he said Mr Rind was a hero like Olympic medalist Arshad Nadeem, and the prime minister would invite him after his return to Pakistan from the US.