Moharka Patti Village (Gajraula District), UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI:
Luckman Ali with the Gold medal he won in the UP State Championship
Mohammad Luckman Ali, 24, was crowned champion in the 82 kg category in the Uttar Pradesh State Wrestling Championship held in Meerut on Sunday. A first-year student of Masters in Social Work at the Jamia Millia Islamia University, Luckman won the god medal to push him closer to his dream of representing the country at the “big international events”, as he puts it.
Speaking to Awazthevoice.in after his victory, Luckman said, “Yes this is one more medal in my cabinet, but I will not rest till I have won a medal for my country at the Olympics.”
A resident of Moharka Patti village in Gajraula district of Western UP, Luckman took up wrestling on the insistence of his late father, Chajju Ali who was influenced by his colleagues to push one of his children into sports. A former Railway employee, Ali during his posting in Garh Mukteshwar came across many sportsmen who had found jobs because of their achievements in wrestling.
“My father always came back home with stories of successful sportsmen in his department.” That inspired Luckman. He started practicing at the local mud akhara about ten kilometres from his home.
Luckman moved to praticing on mats after getting admission at the Chhatrasal Stadium
His exploits at the village-level championships caught the attention of elders in the area. “The village coaches told me to craft my skills on mats where international-level players practice,” he says. That brought him to Delhi and admission to the hallowed halls of the Chhatrasal stadium in 2018.
“It is on these mats that Olympians and other greats of the game practice for hours to bring glory to the country. My eyes widened when I first stepped on to them,” says Luckman with excitement of a young boy who has just earned his first chocolate.
Hours of practice with wrestlers who have worn the India jersey and under the guidance of coaches who handhold world class players, took Luckman to Thailand last year where he represented the country in an international competition and finished 6th in his category.
Luckman first represented India at an international competition in Thailand
Luckman is today a role-model in his village. “Many parents call me and tell me to inspire their children to take up wrestling in the hope that they too will earn a name for themselves,” he says. But who is Luckman’s role-model? “Sushil Kumar and the Russian olympic medalist Abdul Rashid. I want to win many medals at the highest stage of performance for athletes.”
The newly crowned UP state champion is currently preparing for the Khelo India Wrestling Championship scheduled to be held in Varanasi in May. In July, there is Asian Indoor Championship. But the big ticket he is eyeing is the 2024 Paris Olympics. “If not Paris, then 2028 Olympics is definitely where I want to fly India’s flag high,” he says before rushing back to the mat to master his wrestling technique.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Nakul Shivani, New Delhi / March 20th, 2023
Dharavi, one of the largest slums in the world has thrown up many enterprises based on human grit and willpower; and the latest one is a 21-year-old Simran Banu Shaikh who has made it to the Women’s’ Premier League.
Simran has been picked by the UP Warriors for 10 lakhs in the first season of the WPL started on March 4.
Dharavi, spread over 550 acres is home to approximately 10 lakh people and is one of the most thickly populated human settlements in the world with a population density of 869,565 people per square mile. At a 68 percent literacy rate – the highest in any slum area – and a huge recycling a leather industry it’s also an export hub.
Simran Shaikh during net practice
However, despite many ongoing schemes for the area’s development, Dharavi lacks Infrastructure and sanitation is extremely poor.
It’s amidst these circumstances that the story of Simran Sheikh unfolds and she became an example for the youth in following her dreams.
Simran played cricket since her childhood and as the girls didn’t play the sport, she played with boys in her area. When she turned 15, she found herself obsessed with cricket and yet had no idea about the growth and popularity of women’s cricket.
While playing street cricket, Simran joined the Crossway-based United Club, where under the guidance of coach ‘Romdeo Sir’, Simran learned the nuances of the game.
She also mentions the name of Sanjay Satam in helping her. He provided her with a cricket kit and would also bring her other stuff as and when she required it. “I can never forget Sanjay Satam,” she says.
Simran Shaikh
There is a vast difference between street cricket and main cricket; the former is played with a Tennis ball and the latter with a heavy leather ball.
“I also agree that there is a big difference between street cricket and mainstream cricket. But I loved cricket. For my stakes were high and I embraced the change,” she told Awaz-the Voice.
To her surprise, mainstream cricket seemed easier than cricket played with a tennis ball.
Simran comes from a poor family; her father is a wireman and her parents have 7 children – four girls and three boys.
Simran said, ‘We are four sisters and three brothers. Our mother takes care of the house and our father works in wiring. I have two sisters older and the rest are younger than me.”
She said she was never interested in studies and after she failed the matriculation examination, she dropped out of school.
Simran Sheikh is a right-hand batsman and a strong leg spinner. She plays in the middle order and is known for her aggressive batting.
Her parents never stopped her from playing cricket. “Not only had my parents supported me, but even my extended family comprising uncles and aunts also did the same. I also got valuable support from my neighbours. So it has been a good journey so far.’
Simran gained experience playing local cricket tournaments in Mumbai. She also played under-19 cricket.
Simran Shaikh with her team
Later she was selected for Mumbai’s senior team. “I am a batsman. I like to bat in the middle order. But in T20 cricket, I can play at any position..’
Simran adds, ‘I have risen in life due to my strong willpower. I will continue to make efforts.”
She likes Virat Kohli’s batting and Alyssa Perry of Australia in women’s cricket. In the Indian team, she follows the game of Jemima Rodrigues.
Simran says that she got a chance to interact with Indian team women players like Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Harmanpreet Singh, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemima Rodriguez during a tournament.
She has played together with Jemima for Mumbai and says that experience is invaluable for her.
On the state of women’s cricket, she said, ‘Women’s cricket has developed at the global level in the last few years. After England and Australia now T20 league is starting in India too. Bids worth crores of ruppes have been placed on women players. This will also address the financial viability of women’s cricket and help the players.’
Simran dreams of playing in the Indian women’s team and has set her eyes on being in the team that will win the World Cup for the country.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Jayendra Londhe, Mumbai / March 07th, 2023
Braripora Village (Shopian District), JAMMU & KASHMIR:
Star Female Cricketer Jasia Akhter from South Kashmir’s Shopian district has got berth in the inaugural Women‘s Premier League(WPL) after she was brought by Delhi capitals for rupees 20 lakh in auctions on February 13, 2023 at Mumbai.
A total of 409 players from 15 countries were in the auction list.
Talking to Rising Kashmir on phone Jaisa Akhtar said that the selection is big moment in her life.”The initial bid was Rs 1O lakh but atlast the auction sealed at Rs 20 Lakh”, She said.
Delhi Capitals also confirmed the development through a tweet that described the Kashmiri cricketer as Jasia Jaisi Koi nahi on their official Twitter handle.
She told that her family members were praying for her selection and today prayers of her family members were answered.
The player was auctioned to Delhi capitals for Rs 20 Lakh.
WPL is a T20 cricket league organised by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
BCCI had received 1525 registrations out of which 246 native players and 163 overseas players were included in the auction list.
Jasia Akhter from Braripora village of Shopian and Sarla Devi from Jammu were two players from the UT to figure in the list of 409 cricketers which went under the hammer on Monday.
Jasia was figuring at serial 250 while Sarla was at serial 305 in WPL auction list of players.
Jasia has a good season this year and is figuring at top in ODI ranking for domestic cricket and at number two for T20.
She has 500 plus ODI runs and 590 T20 runs.
Jaisa dreams to play for Indian women cricket team.
source: http://www.risingkashmir.com / Rising Kashmir / Home / by Javid Sofi / February 12th, 2023
Nooshin’s restless will to compete helped her transition from an elite player to an elite coach.
While Nooshin was looking for a breather, she is getting to experience what it feels to be part of a team that became the first women’s team to bring an ICC title home – a completion of a well-deserved redemption arc. (Special Arrangement)
Nooshin Al Khadeer hasn’t even had the chance to put her feet up and enjoy a brief break. Being the head coach of the India Under-19 women’s team, the last few months have been busy in every sense. Be it a preparatory camp at the NCA, a bilateral series in Vizag, or a preparatory camp in South Africa, Nooshin was at the forefront of everything. The reward: India getting their hands on the inaugural Under-19 World Cup trophy on January 29, defeating England in the final.
While Nooshin was looking for a breather, she is getting to experience what it feels to be part of a team that became the first women’s team to bring an ICC title home – a completion of a well-deserved redemption arc. Nooshin was, in fact, the final Indian batter to have gotten out in the 2005 Women’s ODI World Cup final against Australia, giving the Aussies the fifth of their seven titles.
pix: @NooshinKhadeer
After landing in Mumbai, she left for Ahmedabad, where the BCCI felicitated the team, before taking the next flight to Ranchi to be part of the Railways team at the ongoing Senior Women’s One-Day tournament. “After winning the title, I told the team it is just the start. And even some of the players feel the same way. So it is important to get down to business straightaway,” Nooshin tells the Indian Express.
Those who know Nooshin up close attribute this dedication and hardwork to her success. Be it Vinod Sharma, who was the head coach of the Railways team she represented for long, her India teammate Punam Raut, or her long-time friend and teammate Mithali Raj, all have a common thing to say: “She was destined to be a coach.”
Lessons in patience
There was, however, one thing Nooshin still had to take care of before charting her path as a coach.
“She was an aggressive player who always wanted things to work out on the field. But you can’t have the same trait as a coach,” Mithali says of her friend. “When she decided to get into coaching, it was something we had a conversation about. When you are a coach, you are not only coaching the seniors, but you also have to coach youngsters, and you need to develop patience. She worked hard on that. That is her biggest transformation,” she adds.
A key part of developing that patience started when Nooshin moved to Hyderabad, where she began her coaching stint with the Under-16 side for two years before moving to the Chhattisgarh senior side.
“I would say I never rushed into coaching saying ‘look I’m an Indian player and I’ve contributed for so long, I have to take up a senior side.’ I wasn’t eligible for it. I wanted to get through the levels — Level A, and B,” Nooshin said.
“Playing and coaching are two different roles. This is a totally different profession, and I’m glad that I understood that early in my life. I took up Chhattisgarh because I wanted to test myself, especially my patience. Coaching needs calmness and patience because I really had to go down to their level, explain things, and build a team,” she added.
Nooshin was, in fact, the final Indian batter to have gotten out in the 2005 Women’s ODI World Cup final against Australia, giving the Aussies the fifth of their seven titles. (Special Arrangement)
As Chhattisgarh did well by making it to the knockouts, her employer Railways would come calling. For a team that is known to win silverware, they had just lost two big titles, and as they pressed the reset button, they came calling for Nooshin. “I had no choice but to take that because I still had a contract running with Chhattisgarh. But since it is the institution that I work for, I took it up as a challenge.”
It is at Railways that Mithali would first see a different Nooshin. The aggressive player, and one who didn’t hesitate to speak her mind, was long gone. “When she came to Railways, I could see she was not Nooshin, the player I knew. Standing in front of us was Nooshin, the coach. And that is when I started to trust her and we started having a lot of conversations about my batting, the team and a lot of other stuff,” Mithali says.
Understanding people
The smooth transition is also a reflection of how Nooshin was quick to adapt. According to her Railways coach Sharma, she has always had leadership qualities, and was especially good at communication. In a simple sense, she was a very vocal player, who wasn’t hesitant to share her views even when some of her senior players chose to stay mum.
“I’m a chatterbox, and I talk to everyone and anybody. To understand people, you need to know them, and the only way I can know someone is if I talk to them. There are 15 different players in the team and each one is different. So reading them is not easy.
“I talk to groundsmen, guys who carry water to the field, because it helps me improve my communication. I get to understand a lot of things by talking to them. For someone to open up, you should make them comfortable and I think I have that natural capability to communicate well,” Nooshin says.
For a player who hung up her boots on March 16, 2012, she hardly had a break. While most players would have preferred to stay away from waking up early and hitting the ground, Nooshin was back on the ground in a fortnight. “On April 1, I was at a coaching camp in Hyderabad,” Nooshin says.
Mithali feels there was a reason for it as well. “I wasn’t surprised that she took up coaching. The way her career ended, she felt there was unfinished business. She wanted to give back to the game. She thought she could do something through coaching. And she worked very hard for it. Whenever I called her, she would be on the ground,” the former India skipper says.
“Look I could have been a selector or completed five years and be eligible to become a match referee. But that isn’t me. I wanted to give something back to the game, even 20 percent of what I learned. Why was never a question, but I never thought I would come this far,” Nooshin says.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Sports> Cricket / by Venkatar Krishna R / February 07th, 2023
25-year-old Zabir Ansari is a national-level Karate player from Bihar and has won many accolades but lack of sponsors is likely to derail his plans to attend upcoming international Karate competition in Canada.
Darbhanga (Bihar):
Zabir Ansari with his Bihar Cup Gold / pix: firstsportz.com
A national-level Karate player Mohd Zabir Ansari (25), who created history last month by winning the gold medal in the 75 kg weight category at the Karate Championship in Chhattisgarh, won’t be able to attend a crucial international Karate competition in Canada if he doesn’t get sponsorship.
Zabir is a final year bachelor’s student of Urdu at Patna College of Patna University. Last month, he won the gold medal in the All India University Tournament held at Atal Bihari Vajpayee University, Vilaspur in Chattisgarh. The tournament featured teams from 140 universities across the country.
“I want to participate in an international Karate competition to be held in Canada next month. I urgently need a sponsor to help me reach there. Without a sponsor, I won’t be able to participate,” Zabir, who trains at the Institute of Martial Arts in Patna, told TwoCircles.net.
“Unlike the national level competition, where I spend from my pocket, I cannot afford an international trip,” he added.
Zabir belongs to a poor family from Tumbka Pahar village in the Jamui district. He is the first person from his village to study at Patna University.
Son of a beedi maker mother and a school teacher father, Zabir doesn’t have enough money to spend on travel expenses anymore.
To support his career as a karate player, he had to invest his family’s meagre savings which have now dried up.
“I can’t afford to travel on my own anymore. I request the government and all those who want me to do well for my country to help me win medals for the country,” he said.
Zabir’s parents told TwoCircles.net that they are proud of their son and want him to succeed. “We are poor and face many hardships but we want him to win a gold medal in the Olympics for our nation. We request the government to help him to achieve this goal,” they said.
State champion in debut year Zabir started his career in 2015 and became the Bihar State Champion in his debut year.
He has won several accolades in his short career. He has won medals for his performance at the state, national and international levels. He has been a gold medalist in the Bihar State Karate Competition six consecutive times. He won silver and bronze medals twice in the National Karate Competition. He was a bronze medalist in the Eastern Zonal Karate Competition and again won bronze at the Inter-University Karate Competition. He has been honoured three times with the National Level Sports Honor by the Government of Bihar.
Zabir has also made his presence felt in many international tournaments. He was a silver medalist in the South Asian Karate Championship. He also won a gold medal in the 75 kg weight category in the 12th All India Open National Karate Competition last year.
In spite of his achievements, Zabir is yet to get any help from the Bihar government or the National Karate Federation. “We can do great internationally if we could get state and corporate sponsorship,” he said.
The Karate Association in Bihar did not respond to repeated calls made by this reporter. The story will be updated as and when the response is received.
Sufi Parween is a fellow at SEEDS-TCN mentorship program.
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Lead Story / Sufi Parveen (headline edited) / pix edited from firstsportsz.com / February 06th, 2023
The athletes were short-listed after a panel of jury, consisting of sports journalists and writers, voted for their preferred players, based on their achievements.
Hyderabad:
Reigning boxing world champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nikhat Zareen and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu were among five athletes nominated on Monday for the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year (ISWOTY) award.
Others who made the cut were wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, who recently staged a protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and accused him of sexual exploitation and intimidation, and Tokyo Olympics silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu.
The athletes were short-listed after a panel of jury, consisting of sports journalists and writers, voted for their preferred players, based on their achievements.
The winner will be chosen by a public vote that began on Monday and will continue till February 20 midnight. The winner will be announced on March 5.
Rupa Jha, the Head of India BBC News, announced that they have introduced a new award category — BBC Indian para-sportswoman of the year.
Ekta Bhyan, the 2018 Asian para Games gold medallist, welcomed the move and emphasised on the need to make the stadiums more accessible to the physically challenged athletes.
“The stadiums and swimming pools should be accessible easily for the disabled athletes. Mental barriers need to be broken, about 60 to 70 percent of disabled population is still restricted to homes. More awareness and work is required at grassroots level,” Bhyan, flanked by London Olympics bronze-winning boxer Vijender Singh, said.
“Sports should be a part of education. Why should disabled athletes start their careers at the age of 15 or 16, sport should be accessible to them much earlier and there should be a comprehensive and non-discriminatory policy for disabled,” she added.
Vijender said the women athletes are two steps ahead of their male counterparts and deserve respect more than the awards.
He lamented that the national boxing federation does not keep in touch with boxers like him.
“I know about the current status of boxing as much you (media persons) know. We are not called for even Nationals or other events. I was asked about Indian boxing by Salman Khan and Rahul Gandhi and told them I don’t know because we are not involved,” he said.
He advised that every village in India should have its own multi-sport stadium to encourage youngsters.
source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home> Sport / by Telangana Today / February 06th, 2023
Tucked away in a remote corner of Budgam on the scenic Srinagar-Gulmarg highway, is a small village called Narbalpeth. Here, every day, at the crack of dawn Ulfat Bano makes her way to a small playground next to her house to train young kids in the art and skill of kicking a football.
Dressed in a hijab and track-suit, Ulfat has been doing this religiously for more than a decade.
The middle of five sisters, she was once a fan of martial art sports and cycling till the bug of football bit her. Actually, it was poverty that pulled her to this sport.
For 37-year-old Ulfat, the initial years were a struggle for the family of five daughters to survive. “At times we slept on empty stomachs or just one roti with salt. Spending money on good education was not an option for my parents. I used to help my mother stitch sweaters and shawls to add to my father’s meagre income,” she says.
She looked at sports as a ladder to success. Most sports are expensive to pursue. The equipment, and coaching is not something everyone can afford. “My father saw my interest in sports, and asked me to take the lead in preparing my other sisters for a better future.”
Ulfat sharing her skills with the youngest of her trainees
“I come from a poor family. Football is cheap to play. Other sports require money. This can be played without much investment,” she says.
Her father who works as a helper in the state irrigation department helped Ulfat prepare a small ground close to her home to play football with her sisters.
“Such was the fun we used to have, gradually our neighbours too started joining us,” she says. In the not-so-economically well-off neighbourhood, many parents saw this as an avenue for their children to grow in life.
Ulfat Bano became the bridge for the young boys and girls in her area. With the local administration opening special avenues for sportspersons in jobs and providing other facilities, excelling in this field was a choice many parents from the lower middle class and poor backgrounds made for their children.
“I empathized with the children. I myself am not well-educated. I knew if other children like me did not get access to good education due to financial constraints, sports could be a good avenue to move up in life,” she says. Many girls and boys trained by her have today got admissions to good colleges and jobs in government departments because of football.
Employed in Kashmir University as a sweeper, Ulfat was spotted by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council which helped her become a certified coach.
JKSC has roped in Ulfat to train future footballers in the valley
“We spotted this young girl during practice sessions in Budgam, doing tremendous work for the girls of her area,” says Nuzhat Gull, Secretary of the JKSC. Nuzhat took her under her wing and gave her the opportunity to mentor girls at the Bakshi stadium in Srinagar.
“Her specialty is that despite coming from a marginal background, she is resilient enough to break stereotypes,” adds Nuzhat.
Ulfat was sent by the JKSC to Kolkata to do a NIS coaching course in 2021. She also has a AIFF ‘D’ coaching certificate and has completed the AIFF grassroots leaders course.
JKSC roped her into scout talent in the Union Territory.
Gradually her reputation as a coach grew. More and more children showed interest in learning from her. Today, Ulfat trains around 400 children in Budgam and Srinagar. Not just this, such is her passion, that during winters she conducts training in indoor spaces. She also travels to far-flung areas of the Union Territory to convince parents to allow their children to play football.
Her aim is to train young kids of Jammu and Kashmir learn to play football in the hope, doors open for them for a better future. “Children from all backgrounds come to train. Some are from very poor families. I want to be their messiah for a better life,” says Ulfat.
What stands Ulfat Bano apart from a lot in the crowd is the fact that she has been rendering her services as a coach voluntarily. “I do not charge any money. I am here only to allow kids to have a level-playing field. I am only hoping to get a regular job in this field soon,” she says.
Many of Ulfat’s trainees have played in the state-level age-group championships
For her training kids is all she eats and breathes.
Her sisters all are married and settled. “I don’t want to marry and get distracted from my main aim in life, which is to see a few of my trainees play for the country,” she says.
Some of the children she has trained have represented the state in the age-group championships. “I am waiting for the day when someone comes back to me with the India jersey,” she says before starting her scooty to go for her evening training session at the Bakshi stadium in Srinagar.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Nakul Shivani / posed by Shaista Fatima / January 27th, 2023
Karnataka’s Mohiuddeen Mohammed Hisham emerged as a ‘champion’ by winning the ‘Best Goalkeeper of the League’, three times at AIFF – Nationals 7s Futsal League Finals 2021 in Bengaluru.
Hisham representing Karnataka won the man of the match title in three matches against three different states including the finals against West Bengal. He belonged to the Group D which consisted of four states Karnataka, Manipur Meghalaya and Andhra Pradesh.
All India Football Federation’s Nationals 7s Futsal League Finals 2021 began from September 20th to 25th with the participation of 28 states from India. The final match was held in Bengaluru district of Karnataka.
Hisham’s first Match 7 as a goalkeeper was against Meghalaya with a score of 2:0. Manikantha was the ‘Man Of The Match’.
The next match 15 was Manipur Vs Karnataka with a goal score of 0:0, where Mohiuddeen M Hisham won the ‘Man Of The Match’.
With a goal score 3:3, M Hisham bagged the ‘Man of the Match’ title in the Quater Finals Match 3, that was Kerala Vs Karnataka and Karnataka won the tie breakers (1:4).
AIFF Nationals 7s Futsal League Finals, held in Bengaluru was between West Bengal Vs Karnataka, with a score of 0:1. Mohiuddin M Hisham was finally given the ‘Best Goalkeeper of the League’ title.
Talking to The Hindustan Gazette, M Hisham said, “I kinda expected to be the man of match because I knew I gave my best. I was happy that I gave a good performance. And everyone were so proud, my family, friends, including my principal. Even though it’s a dental college and we need to focus on our own studies and career, my principal has supported me a lot,” he said.
22-year-old Hisham is pursuing 3rd year BDS in AJ Institute of Dental Sciences in Mangalore disctrict. He has played football for national level, five times and won 3 matches among them.
“I started playing football when I was 13 years old in school. I was fat that’s why they asked me to be the goalkeeper and eventually I started liking it,” he told THG.
The dental student first played football for national level when he was only 15 and then 17 years old. At the age of 20, 21 and 22 years, he won all national matches, respectively.
He further said, “When I was young, I used to be nervous during the matches, but now I’m used to it. I keep playing football in many places. Now I’m not nervous, I try giving my best in each and every match.”
On asked upon if he’s going to pursue his career in dental or football he said, “Dental will be a back-up plan, because you never know. I’ll be going to Bangalore for my internship, as well as play for ‘Bangalore C division’ and ‘I League’. I want to shift to Bangalore and focus on football and train myself. Later I have plans of doing master’s in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and alongside I’ll be playing football,” Hisham added.
He said, “Football is my favourite sport. Football is my life, it’s everything. However, you always need to have a backup in life because you never know and that’s why I’m pursuing dental.”
“I want to thank my father MA Khaleel Basha and mother Shamshad Banu. I want to thank my coach Qasim sir, my club team Mangalore United FC Members – Touseef Ahmed , Shihaz Theruvath and Taswar Ahmed and my Principal Dr.Nillan K shetty for always supporting me,” Mohiuddin M Hisham said.
source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> National> Karnataka / by Rabia Shireen / September 30th, 2021
Syeda Shafia Sultana has won the Black Belt Championship Cup 2022 and also won 2 good medals in a row. The national level championship was organized by Combat School of Martial Arts on Sunday, 18th December at Victory Indoor Stadium, Chaderghat in Hyderabad.
Shafia, is a BiPC student of Shaheen Group of Institutions from Hyderabad’s Malakpet Branch.
She is being coached by Senior Master Syed Iftequar Hussain, the founder President and Technical Director of Pako Martial Arts & Self Defence Academy
Syeda Shafia Sultana has many other feathers on her hat, she won the Thaiboxing World Champion, Thaiboxing Asian Champion, 10 times Karate International Champion and won the National Champion In Karate, Kickboxing, Koshiki, Kudo & Thaiboxing several times.
source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Sports / by Ayesha Mastoor / December 19th, 2022
FAISAL ALI DAR watched Enter the Dragon when he was in class X. He was so enamoured by Bruce Lee that he started mimicking the martial arts master’s stunts. He persevered until he had perfected some of Lee’s on-screen moves. His friends and neighbours told him that his passion would bring him nothing. But he continued to pursue it with determination.
The journey that Dar embarked on in 2003, from a village boy to a martial arts trainer, motivational speaker and social worker, is a gripping tale of hard work, dedication and sacrifice. He started with wushu and switched to kickboxing in 2008. In 2010, he won silver medal in the Asian kickboxing championship. Initially, his efforts to woo youngsters to the sport did not evoke much response. “People thought it was a waste of time,”he said.
At his village of Bagh in Bandipora, 70km north of Srinagar, the lack of proper training and equipment impeded his efforts to establish himself as a kickboxer. “When I was training for kickboxing, I would use nylon slippers to practice punching with other kids, as I did not have money to buy pads and punchers,” he said. “I did not know the rules. I needed a coach and proper equipment which I could not afford.”
Things changed when coach Kuldeep Handoo—the first Dronacharya awardee from Jammu and Kashmir—took him under his wings. “He worked on my fitness and training and also taught me the rules of the game,’’ he said. “I worked as a labourer to save money to travel to Jammu for training.”
His family was supportive, but he did not want to burden them. “During the harvest, I would work in the orchards to load apples in trucks,” he said. The money was barely enough for his travel and stay, but he continued his training. He worked with building contractors to fund jerseys and equipment.
It was during this time that Dar realised the need for a training academy in Kashmir. “After participating in different tournaments, I realised that if our youngsters get proper training and support, they will make it big,” he said.
Dar participated in four nationals and won two golds and one silver. He called it quits in 2013 so that he could devote himself to coaching youngsters at his Ali Sports Academy, named after his late grandfather, Muhammad Ali.
There are 2,687 students registered in 17 clubs under the academy. Sixteen of them have participated in international championships, bagging four golds, five silvers and three bronzes in various events. “At the national level, 24 players have won gold, 33 silver and 56 bronze in different martial arts events,’’ he said.
The academy’s training programmes have been popular with girls. “One of our trainees, Abida Akhtar, won a silver in the 48kg category wushu championship in Malaysia in 2017,” said Dar.
The academy offers coaching at an annual fee of Rs50. “We have opened branches of our academy in eight districts now,” said Dar. “I believe athletes from Jammu and Kashmir, with proper training and physical fitness, can win Olympic medals.”
Dar took up another mission when he realised the depth of drug addiction in the valley. “We worked on de-addiction and then introduced them to sports so that they don’t return to drugs.” Dar and his volunteers played an active role in relief and rescue in the 2014 floods and during the Covid-19 pandemic. “During the pandemic, we mobilised our volunteers to distribute food and medicine to the people at their doorsteps.”
Dar has also been active in social projects like plantation drives, sanitation drives, blood donation camps, disaster management drives, female self-defence training camps, and women empowerment awareness campaigns. “We are honoured that he has been awarded Padma Shri,” said his father, Muhammad Shafi Dar.
pix @rashtrapatibhvn
Dar is the first Padma Award winner in sport from Jammu and Kashmir. “It is his hard work that has paid off,” said Arsalan Habib, a friend. “His contribution to the promotion of sports is exemplary.”
source: http://www.theweek.in / The Week / Home> The Week / by Tariq Bhat / additional pix edited @rashtrapatibhvn / February 13th, 2022
