Srinagar, August 17, Aug. 17 -- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday felicitated Jammu and Kashmir mixed martial arts fighter Owais Yaqoob and announced a cash award of Rs.1 lakh in recognition of his achievements on the international stage. The Chief Minister praised Yaqoob for bringing recognition to Jammu and Kashmir and India through his performances, saying his success could encourage more young athletes in the region to pursue sporting excellence. Yaqoob, born in 1998 in Murran village of Pulwama, is regarded as the first professional MMA fighter from Kashmir. He began his sporting career with taekwondo and kickboxing around 2012-13 and went on to win 11 national gold medals, six silver medals and 17 state-level titles. He also re...