Excelsior Sports Correspondent
KATRA, Oct 2: The first Kashmiri woman grappler today appealed people of the Valley to be the guiding force of their daughters and help them realise their dreams.
In a simple message, ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Aur Beti Pahalwan Banao’ Nahida Nabi urged the parents to save daughters, educate and make them wrestlers.
Ms Nabi of Sopore in Baramulla district of Kashmir, was here to participate in the ‘Mission Dosti Maha Dangal’ wrestling competition being organised as a part of nine-day-long Navratra festival.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the slogan of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ but I want to add ‘Beti Ko Pahalwan Banao’, so that the girls in the Kashmir valley, chase and fulfil their dreams,” Nabi said.
She had to face a lot of opposition and struggled hard to become a professional wrestler in an atmosphere where girls playing sports is a taboo.
“I want to appeal girls in Kashmir to come out, play whatever you want to and make everyone proud,” said the wrestler.
Expressing gratitude to her parents and brother for their unflinching support throughout her ‘not so smooth’ journey, she said they have been her pillars of strength.
“I am determined to represent the country, play at the international level,” she asserted despite no wrestling coach agreeing to guide her in the Valley owing to the prevailing scenario.
She, however, thanked her mentors-Nisha Sharma and Ashiq Kumar-who coached her initially and still stand by her as mentors whenever she needs them.
Going down the memory lane, Nabi recalled that she was good at Kabaddi when she was pursuing studies of Bachelors in Physical Education Department at University of Jammu but her friend turned coach, wanted her to be a wrestler.
“I was taught to change some techniques of Kabaddi after which I fell in love with Wrestling, found it interesting and finally decided to go ahead with the sport,” she narrated.
Playing wrestling for the last four years, Nabi, played her first Senior National at Gonda in Uttar Pradesh.
Although she could not do well in the competition but her urge for medal did not stop and she got more committed and dedicated for wrestling.
“I want to play at an international level and serve in Kashmir valley to coach my girls so that they come out and play despite all odds,” she added.
She, however, expressed gratitude to her coach Nisha Sharma saying, “Mobile phones were not earlier working in the Kashmir valley due but she (coach) dashed me a letter through speed post following which I called her from the landline and I was told about the competition and she convinced me to participate.”
“I am really thankful to the coach because she gave me an opportunity to participate in country’s one of the famous and most loved competitions at this platform,” said Nabi.
Coach Nisha Sharma said that both of them were classmates and pursued professional studies in the field of sports but she wanted her to excel in wrestling.
Nisha, herself is the first woman from Jammu and Kashmir, who bagged bronze medal in All India Inter University Wrestling competition in 2012.
“She is good at techniques. She is hardworking and dedicated for the game but needs more professional guidance and I am sure than she can do wonders,” added the coach.
President Jammu and Kashmir Indian Style Wrestling Association, Shiv Kumar Sharma said, “The ‘Mission Dosti’ dangal competition was started in 2004 with an aim to develop good relations between India and Pakistan but Pakistan later did not participate and instead, wrestlers from different countries were invited.
“We also introduced women wrestling in the competition few years back because girls in our country are excelling in all fields and introducing this event into Katra festival, will give boost to the women of Jammu and Kashmir in the field of sports,” said Mr Sharma.
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