Myanmar-born Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight World Champion Joshua Van continued his regional tour to northeastern India on Friday with a high-profile courtesy visit to Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma in the state capital Aizawl.
The two discussed youth empowerment, the development of local athletics, and the profound impact of international sporting achievements on the region’s youth during the meeting at the Chief Minister’s Office on May 29.
An inspiration to the youth
Chief Minister Lalduhoma formally congratulated the 24-year-old champion on his remarkable ascent in the UFC, noting that Van’s success story has become a profound source of pride for the people of Mizoram.
Lalduhoma emphasized that Van’s journey—rising from a childhood as a refugee to the absolute pinnacle of global combat sports—serves as a powerful example of dedication and perseverance, encouraging young Mizo athletes to pursue their dreams with unwavering confidence.
Deep cultural ties
Van, who was born across the border in Myanmar’s Chin State capital of Hakha, and shares deep ethnic and cultural ties with the Mizo people, used the platform to express his profound affection for the state and its residents.
“I want the Mizo people to consider me their UFC Champion,” Van told the Chief Minister. “I regard Mizoram as my home and consider the people here as my brothers and sisters.”
The meeting was also attended by key state officials, including Sports Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar and MLA Lt. Col. Clement Lalhmingthanga.
A champion’s regional tour
Just days before arriving in India, the fighter drew a massive crowd of over 2,000 fans for a meet-and-greet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—the very city where he once lived as a refugee for two years after fleeing the conflict in Myanmar as a child, before his family ultimately resettled in the U.S. Van reportedly holds dual Myanmar-U.S. citizenship.
The champion’s presence in India’s Mizoram State–across the border from his homeland of Myanmar–has sparked a wave of enthusiasm among sports enthusiasts, further spotlighting the region’s massive potential in international combat sports and cementing Van as a unifying hero for the global Chin-Mizo diaspora.
The Northeast Post/UNI
