Ayesha Aynain, a student of SDM College in Mysuru, secured a silver medal in Khelo India National Wushu Championship held at Jammu & Kashmir in March. She is trained under coach M.K. Asif.
Ayesha Aynain is the daughter of Ejaz Pasha and Hajira, residents of Agrahara in city.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home>News> Sports / by Star of Mysore, headline edited / April 21st, 2024
By winning the prestigious Arjuna Award, the 25-year-old India women’s kho kho team captain has brought joy to her struggling father, who dedicated himself body and soul to fuel her passion.
Nasreen Shaikh, a 25-year-old from Shakurpur, will walk down the iconic Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9, to collect the Arjuna Award in Kho Kho, a sport that is not considered mainstream since it isn’t part of Commonwealth, Asian or Olympic Games.
She will become only the second kho kho player to win the National Sports Award in the last 25 years – the other being Sarika Kale Sudhakar in 2020 – after the indigenous sport became irrelevant at the turn of the century and struggled for recognition with the Union sports ministry backing Olympic sports heavily to eye medals in the quadrennial international multi-sports events.
“Kho Kho has changed my life. I have been able to support my struggling father,” said Nasreen as she flipped through a file looking for documents for police verification required to be sent to authorities ahead of the Arjuna Awards ceremony.
Nasreen’s father, Mohammed Ghafoor, came to Delhi in 1980 from Araria in Bihar, polished utensils for a living, worked as thekedaar (contractor) before losses forced him to try his luck at weekly markets. The father of 11 doesn’t rest even a single day and sets up shop in morning and evening all seven days of the week. He sells his wares – mostly utensils — in patri bazaar (roadside weekly markets) in Inderlok, Inderpuri, Minto Road, Patel Nagar, Ranjit Nagar, Karampura, Nangloi, Tri Nagar, Kishan Ganj, Shastri Nagar among other places.
“Generally, people focus on one market a day but I have been taking my wares to two bazaars every day for the last many years since household expenses are huge. I had to bring up kids (seven daughters and four sons) and also fuel Nasreen’s passion,” says Ghafoor.
“I worked a lot for her. It was my responsibility to provide her with the diet. She requires [protein] powders, chana, peanuts, nuts and almonds. I’d go to Lahori Gate to fetch all this and it would cost 5,000-6,000 rupees every time,” explains Ghafoor.
Nasreen is extremely grateful to her father, who is chuffed to see her daughter win the Arjuna Award.
“He even stopped visiting his hometown as it would set him back by a good amount. He made many sacrifices.”
There was also some resistance to her taking up the sport, especially kho kho, but when Nasreen began earning accolades and people around her saw prospects, all of that subsided and she started getting acknowledged in the family and among relatives.
Hard Worker :
Nasreen’s father Mohammed Ghafoor) sets up shop all seven days of the week in patri bazaars to help fund her daughter’s training. To Nasreen’s right is her mother
“She was committed right from the start and I thought she should be given a chance,”adds Ghafoor.
Nasreen started playing kho-kho when she was in third standard at the Government Senior Secondary School in Kohat Enclave. She was also a very good athlete, winning gold medals in 100m and 200m sprints at school level. By the sixth standard, she was participating in the school nationals as well as the nationals in kho kho.
“Since we were financially vulnerable, I couldn’t play any sport that involved equipment. So, I had to pick kho kho and athletics,” says Nasreen, who graduated from Delhi University’s Daulat Ram College with BA (Pass) degree and is now doing M.P.Ed. (Masters in Physical Education) from Lovely Professional University in Punjab. She also completed B.P.Ed. (Bachelors in Physical Education) from the same university before this.
The big moment for Nasreen came in 2019 when she became captain of the Indian kho kho team for the South Asian Games. India won gold under her captaincy. She has so far competed in 50 national events and six international events. Even though the sport isn’t popular, still it is played in 38 countries.
While KKFI has started Ultimate Kho Kho, a franchise-based tournament that provides a platform for youngsters to earn and play, it is restricted only to male players. There are talks of having a women’s league on similar lines too but getting sponsors remains a struggle.
A few months after the high of becoming the national captain, her family struggled through Covid as her father had to sit at home without work. Kho Kho Federation of India, the governing body of the sport, chipped in with Rs 1 lakh and DYWA, an organisation based out of Delhi-6 also gave her Rs 50,000, to help her wade through the difficult time.
She worked on a stipend with Airports Authority of India (AAI).
“The stipend helped my family. But it had to end last year since the support is for only junior players,” says Nasreen, who is currently looking for a job and is hopeful that the Arjuna Award will help her land one.
“The sport has grown. It used to be considered a gali-kucha game. Earlier, we used to put money from our pocket for even travelling but now we are getting something back. Mittal sir (Sudhanshu Mittal, the president of the federation), announces cash prizes after tournaments and that helps. Prime Minister Narendra Modi backed the sport too in one of his speeches and it has boosted our confidence, given us recognition,” she adds.
Nasreen’s success has already inspired her two younger sisters to take up the sport. The four older ones are married and settled as home-makers.
The 18-year-old sister is studying at LPU in Punjab while the youngest, who is 14 years old, is studying in a school in Delhi.
“They both want to play kho kho.”
Her younger brother even gave up studies to cut down on their household expenses and ensure that Nasreen is left with as much money as possible for her training.
When at home, Nasreen leaves her home in hijab every morning on a scooty that she purchased recently and goes to a park in a different neighbourhood to work on her fitness.
“It (Hijab) is a norm here in our locality. But I take it off at the park during workout,” she adds.
The morning session is dedicated to endurance and fitness. She works out between 5 am and 8 am in the park before returning home.
“You need athleticism, endurance, stamina, and flexibility in this game. Everything. That is also a reason why I got hooked to it. If we play this game and become good players, we can participate in other games too like I participated in athletics.”
She works on kho kho skills in the evening session from 4 pm to 8 pm.
The set-up at LPU, she says, has helped her in training immensely.
While the Arjuna Award will be a feather in her cap and give her recognition, there is every likelihood that she will be celebrated as a star athlete in years to come. For the KKFI is planning biopic on her on the lines of those made on MS Dhoni and MC Mary Kom.
Special Player :
Nasreen Shaikh is the second kho kho player to win Arjuna Award in the last 25 years
“We are making a biopic on her. The plan is still in a nascent stage and we are working out the details like who will write the script, and who will direct the film among other things. She could play the protagonist herself or we could hire another actor to play her,” said Mittal, the KKFI President to Patriot.
source: http://www.thepatriot.in / The Patriot / Home> Delhi NCR / by Khurram Habib / January 09th, 2024
The 19-year-old Adeeba Ali of Nizamuddin Basti, New Delhi, has raised the bar for those seeking to rise in life notwithstanding physical limitations. The para-athlete recently ended up becoming an inspiration to thousands of people as she won gold and silver medals in the 26th National Shooting Championship competition organized by Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy, Bhopal.
Amina Majeed Siddiqui of Awaz spoke with her at her home. Excerpts from the conversation:
How did you think about going to the National Shooting Championship competition and how many days did you prepare for it?
I had always liked sports, but soon after the accident, I started finding what was best for me. After a lot of searching, I met my coaches Subhash Rana and Rohit Sir. They showed me the path to getting back into sports. They suggested I start with competing on the track and gradually aim for the zonal, and the nationals. So after gradual preparation, I qualified for the National championships. It has been 10 months since I started preparing.
How did this accident happen?
It was five years ago, I was looking out from the balcony of my house (Fourth floor). I foot slipped and I fell on the ground floor. I felt dizzy. At first, I thought I was falling backward but no, I was falling forward. Because of that my spine was fractured and due to that my legs do not work.
Have you participated in other competitions before this?
I have also participated in District Level, Zonal, para-zonal, North Zone, and Para National. This is my 5th match.
What inspired you to take up sports?
My inspiration is my father. He has always been promoting sports. He is very fond of cricket. So Papa knows the importance of playing sports. Just as education is important, sports are also important. Secondly, my ideal is Avni Lekhara (Olympian); she is the first woman who won gold medal in shooting and the Para Olympics, she is a big inspiration to me.
How did your journey in sports start, when did you think that you should go into this field?
I wanted to be associated with sports, so I started searching. Earlier I used to participate in basketball, football, and other sports. But after the accident, everything seemed to be over for some time. I searched for a new sport that I could play with my physical limitations. I wanted to leave the accident behind because whatever happened had happened. I had to see what I could do. I came to know about Para Games which people with disabilities can also play. This gave a new meaning to me. I came to know that despite being disabled one can still play. I came to know about shooting and that yes, I realized I am made for it, then I started playing. It was not so good in the beginning. Then with time, I got better. I gained a new identity and now shooting has become an important part of my life, if I don’t practice for a day, I feel something is missing in life.
What is your plan for the future?
I intend that I want to do better every day. I want to work very hard.
What message would you like to give to those who give up on small things?
I would like to say that you should have faith in yourself, because if you give up on yourself, how will others support you? If you have this feeling within you that no matter what happens to me, you can still do this work, then you can achieve anything. The most important thing is to have faith in yourself.
I also spoke with Adiba Ali’s mother Reshma Ali. She told me:
“Adiba used to lie on the bed after the accident and had lost courage. Then one day she thought about how she could move on in life and do better. Initially, she was bedridden for one and a half years. She slowly started reconciling to her condition and began painting. Despite being bedridden, she wrote examinations for 12th standard and did well. She is now pursuing a BA in English. After that she saw what else she could do, and then she watched Avni Lekhara’s videos and said that if she can do it, I can also do it.
“She had never held a pistol in her hand. Her coach Subhash Rana worked very hard on her. Adeeba practices for 8 hours. If one wants to achieve something in life one surely has to do a lot of hard work and Adeeba did the same. She has made all of us proud. I intend to organize motivational camps for people facing disabilities. I want to tell them my daughter’s story. I want to tell people that you can do a lot despite being disabled. We will guide people on how a new life starts from here.”
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Ameena Majid Siddiqui / December 25th, 2023
Fiza Nazir, the emerging martial arts sensation hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, has etched her name in the annals of sports history by clinching the gold medal in the senior women’s -56.7 kg weight category at the Asian MMA Championship 2023 (IMMMAF) held in Bahrain.
With unwavering focus, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of her dreams, Fiza Nazir has consistently demonstrated her mettle on grand stages. Currently training at one of Asia’s premier MMA schools, Fiza’s triumph in Bahrain has propelled her to new heights in the world of martial arts.
The gold medal at the Asian MMA Championship marks a pivotal moment in Fiza’s career, and she is now setting her sights on representing India in the upcoming World Championship later this year. Her success is a testament to her resilience, skill, and commitment to excellence.
Expressing her gratitude, Fiza acknowledges the crucial support of her sponsors, TCI Cements, along with the unwavering backing from her family and coaches. Their encouragement and support played a vital role in her journey to becoming a trailblazer for Indian women in the field of mixed martial arts.
source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com / Greater Kashmir / Home> Latest News / by GK News Service / December 26th, 2023
Competition concluded with two national meet records.
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh):
Bushra Khan of the Madhya Pradesh State Athletics Academy has created a national meet record in the 3000-metre run in the 21st National Federation Cup Jr. U20 Athletics Championships, which concluded on Sunday in Thiruvannamalai.
Khan created a national meet record with a timing of 9:35.21 seconds. She has qualified for the Junior Asian Championships for the second time in this tourney. With a meet record to her name, Bushra won the gold medal. This is her second medal for this feat.
In this tournament, Bushra finished second in the women’s 5000m race with a timing of 16.59.05. She is training under coach SK Prasad. In the youth games, she won the 3,000-metre gold at Tatya Tope Stadium.
In the men’s 3000m, Vikas Bind finished third in 8:29.32 to win the bronze medal, while Mo Nadeem won the silver medal in the hammer throw by finishing second in 61.56m.
In the men’s 800m, Shyam Bind finished second in 1:50.27, won the silver medal, and qualified for the Junior Asian Championships.
In men’s 3000m steeple chase, Gaurav Yadav finished second in 9:20.37, winning the silver medal.
source: http://www.freepressjournal.in / The Free Press Journal / Home> Bhopal / by Staff Reporter / May 01st, 2023
Former national discus throw champion Tayabun Nisha traced her childhood friend Julekha to return a gold ring the latter had lost in school back in 1967.
Guwahati :
When these two friends met after five decades, one paid off a debt never asked for and acted like the champion that she is.
Former national discus throw champion Tayabun Nisha felt heavy at the burden of an almost weightless finger ring of her friend Julekha, lost way back in 1967 at their Dhai Ali Girls’ High School in Assam’s Sivasagar.
More than 55 years later, Tayabun traced Julekha and arranged a reunion to reclaim those golden years that far outweigh the little ring. She gave her friend an envelope containing Rs 12,000 – the value of the ring.
“We were possibly students of class 7 or 8. Julekha was from an affluent family and she would come to school wearing gold jewellery. One day, she lost her finger ring in the class,” Tayabun, the first Assamese woman athlete to represent India in several international events, said recalling the incident.
“I used to go to school early to play games in the field. Those days, we had to clean our classroom. So, while cleaning it the next morning, I found the ring Julekha lost. However, I didn’t return it for the fear that I might be accused of stealing it and took it home. In due course, my father died and we faced a lot of financial difficulties. Perhaps, it was then that the ring was sold off by my family,” Tayabun said.
As time rolled by, the two friends lost contacts with each other and Tayabun landed a job in the railways in the sports quota but she was mentally disturbed all along.
“I used to think that since I cannot return that very ring to her, I will give her its value when I meet her. I thought I can expiate that way,” Tayabun, who has retired from service, said.
“But I had no idea about her whereabouts. So, I sought the help of my sister. After talking to a whole lot of people, she learnt where Julekha lives. Once I got her number, I called her up to say I would visit her. When I met her (on Tuesday), I told her everything. She initially refused to accept the value that I gave for the ring,” Tayabun said.
She said she would not have got the peace of mind if she had failed to locate Julekha and pay off the debt.
The softspoken Julekha was equally overjoyed to meet Tayabun after decades. “I feel happy that she came. I almost forgot her but she remembered me,” Julekha said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Prasanta Mazumdar / Express News Service / March 24th, 2023