Raja Syed Rather
SRINAGAR: Azra, a young talented girl from downtown Srinagar wants to pursue her career in the field of sports but cant do anything without any financial support and proper guidance.
Azra has done bachelors in Physical Education from Physical Education College Ganderbal and is now pursuing her masters in the same field from University of Kashmir.
She has proven herself on the cricket ground and in the badminton court as she has played Nationals in both the categories and has represented Jammu and Kashmir in various other fields as well.
She has a room full of medals and certificates which she has achieved while representing JK in various sports categories.
She has played Rugby, and other martial arts sports and has also been an NCC cadet, possessing A, B and C category certificates. She has also represented Jammu and Kashmir as commander during Republic Day Celebration in Delhi in the year 2012.
Azra says she has a dream of representing Kashmir at the international as well but due to lack of infrastructure, financial support and proper guidance she is afraid she might not be able to fulfill her dreams.
She said “I am talented, energetic and enthusiastic and I feel I can prove my mettle in every sports field but lack of financial support has shorten my dreams. I am planning to open a cricket or badminton academy where I can train children of my area and inspire them to choose sports as their career, ” she says.
“But for that I need financial support and proper guidance. As of now I’m imparting badminton coaching to the children of my area free of cost and I hope one day I will fulfill my dream of opening an Academy.”
Azra’s father is a copper smith, who has small shop in downtown area to earn the livelihood for himself and his family as well.
Azra has participated in various sports disciplines including Badminton, Judu, Cricket, Rugby and has been awarded around 40+ certificates of excellence, merit and participation in these categories.
She has got a gold medal in Athletics (Javelin throw and shot put) in the year 2017 from the University of Kashmir.
She has participated thrice in All India Inter University badminton championship and has also participated in National Rajiv Gandhi All India Badminton Championship.
Azra has also taken part at national level Badminton tournaments organized by Ministry of Youth Services and Sports, Government of India in 2016 and 2017,
Not only this, she has also represented JK in U-19 cricket in the year 2012.
She has also won several Badminton tournaments in Srinagar. She has been a 6 times champion of Badminton in district Srinagar.
She has also got silver medals in Judo and Cricket and a bronze Medal in Skiing.
“I want to learn more. I believe there is a lot of scope and talent in Kashmir, i believe we Kashmiris have good talent in all sports and other activities, and we just need to believe in ourselves and work hard for better outcomes. I want all girls to feel good and join any sport they want to learn and earn,” she says.
