Suhail Khan
Despite the challenges and limited resources in her village, Shahista’s determination and passion for Taikando pushed her to achieve greatness. Her hard work and perseverance paid off when she won a gold medal in the national championship, making her a standout athlete in her category.
In an interview with Kashmir Despatch, Shahista Alyaas, a resident of the border area of Tangdar in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district and a class 10th student at AGS Tangdar, said that she recently won the gold medal in the national championship held in New Delhi.
Not only did Shahista prove her mettle nationally, but she also caught the attention of selectors for international competitions.
The fact that she has been selected twice to represent her country at the international level speaks volumes about her talent and dedication.
Shahista said that her passion for this game has paid off as she was earlier selected for the International Championship, which was scheduled in Dubai. After that, she was selected for another International Championship, which was scheduled in Australia, but due to some issues with her visa, she was not able to attend the championships.
“I have completed all pending formalities, now ending this month, and I will be part of the International championship,” she added.
While sharing her short journey, the young athlete of Border Town Tangdar said that no matter what, she has been able to follow her dream and her passion despite living in a place where such things are only a distinct dream.
“Without the support of parents, teachers, and especially the Indian army, this would never be possible,” Shahista further added
Shahista said that despite living in a society where people are only busy criticizing, especially when a female comes forward in sports, her family has been a strength for her to follow my passion.
“My family stood firmly there for me and that’s how I am rising to the higher echelons of life,” she added.
Shahista said that for her, the journey was not so easy.
“I had gone through many of the toughest challenges of being a resident of a far-flung border area that is often cut off from the rest of the world, but I didn’t lose hope, didn’t give up, and kept myself motivated in order to fight and to win,” she added.
In a message, the young athlete advised youth, especially girls, not to be afraid and try to fight with fear, and then see the result.
She said facing challenges alone will lead us to a successful and fruitful future.
She also appeals to parents to understand the issues and problems of their daughters and allow and support them to follow their dreams.
Her success story is inspiring not only for those in her village but for women all across north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. It also signifies the efforts of Army Goodwill school Tangdhar, the staff, teachers and the management who have provided wings to the youth of frontier areas of Kupwara Kashmir.
Shahista’s achievements highlight the power of determination, resilience, and hard work. She comes from a humble background, but her passion for Taekwondo has propelled her towards success.
She has shattered stereotypes and proved that talent knows no boundaries. Her journey serves as a reminder that anyone with a dream can achieve greatness with dedication and perseverance.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
