SRINAGAR: Nazia Bibi, a 21-year-old from Nagrota, Jammu, has etched her name in history by becoming the first player from Jammu and Kashmir to be selected for the Indian Women’s Kho Kho team. She will represent the country at the World Cup, a prestigious event set to commence on January 13, 2025, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The tournament will see participation from over 20 nations, reports in the media said.
Hailing from a modest background, Nazia is the daughter of Zulekha Bibi and Sabar Ali, a shopkeeper. A member of the tribal community, she developed a passion for Kho Kho during her school days and began playing professionally seven years ago. Currently, she is pursuing a BA degree in her fifth semester at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu.
Nazia credits her inspiration to her cousins, who are in the Indian Army and have excelled in sports. “Since my childhood, I have seen my cousins play sports, and that sparked my interest in pursuing a career in sports,” she shared.
Her unwavering dedication and years of effort culminated in her selection as the only player from Jammu and Kashmir in the Indian team for the World Cup. Prior to this, four players from the region—two men and two women—were invited to the national camp, but Nazia was the sole female athlete chosen to compete on the global stage.
