Before becoming a seven-time EVO champion and being crowned the “King of TEKKEN,” Arslan Ash was known by a very different and unusual nickname within Pakistan’s fighting game community. In a recent interview, the Pakistani esports star revealed that in his early competitive days, other players used to call him “Arslan bachiyon wala.”
He explained that the nickname came from his habit of choosing female characters in TEKKEN, something most male players avoided at the time. According to Arslan, there was a common mindset in the local scene that losing to a female character was considered embarrassing.
“There was this belief that everyone had to act like an alpha,” Arslan said. “So players only picked male characters, and anyone using female characters was made fun of.”
However, this attitude worked in his favor. Since most players refused to use female characters, they also never practiced against them, leaving them unprepared in real matches.
“How can you prepare for something you never face?” Arslan questioned.
Instead of changing his style to fit in, Arslan stuck with his choices and continued to dominate local competitions. He secured consistent wins across Pakistan using characters like Julia, Nina, and Lili. Arslan added that his decision was based on gameplay strategy rather than rebellion. He believed female characters offered clear competitive advantages that others failed to notice at the time.
“The female characters had better frame advantages and higher damage,” he said. “They were simply stronger in TEKKEN.”
What was once mocked as a weakness ultimately became one of the key reasons behind Arslan Ash’s rise to the top of competitive TEKKEN.
Being one of the best gamers, Arslan Ash Created History, Won 7th EVO Title for Pakistan
