Terror can’t deter Kashmiri girl from landing wushu blows
It is a dream come true for me. After marriage, I never thought that I would ever able to pursue sports. But it (the divorce) was a blessing in disguise. ABIDA AKHTAR, wushu medallist
CHANDIGARH: Abida Akhtar’s hardships started before she could even understand the world and the circumstances around her. She was barely 18 months old when her father K hus hi Mo hammad, in the Jammu & Kashmir Police, fell to the bullets of terrorists. With the sole bread earner gone and without any other source of income, the family of four, including Abida’s mother and two siblings, struggled to make ends meet.
An arranged marriage ended her sporting career and the couple was divorced in two years. It was again sports that provided succour, and on Sunday the 25-year-old Wushu player made the country proud with a bronze in the 48 kg( sans hou event) in the Malaysia Wushu International Championships.
“It’ s a dream come true for me. After the marriage, I never thought I would be able to pursue sports. It was a blessing in disguise that my two-year-old marriage ended in divorce and I again entered the beautiful world of sports,” a delighted Abida, who hails from Gojarpatti in Bandi- pore, one of the most terrorist-affected districts of Jammu and Kashmir, told Hindu stan Times.
“Initially after my divorce, I was quite upset and due to the fear of society, I remained in isolation. It took me a year to get out of it. But because of my family and coach Faisal Ali, I was able to get back to the mainstream. I started training last year and my hard work has paid off.”
THE BEGINNING
It was Ali’s demonstration of martial arts in the school that introduced 17-year-old Abida to sports.
Though she had to trek five kilometers in rough terrain and travel another eight km by bus, Abida never skipped training, winning a national medal in kickboxing after just two years.
“I have seen so much in life the definition of hardship has totally changed for me. And the circumstances under which my mother took care of us, have given me immense courage to fight against odds,” said Abida.
MARITAL DISCORD
Although A bid a earned a name in sports in a short time, marriage is customary in her region once the girls are out of their teens or finish graduation. She was taking her BA final year exams when she got married (2013). And marriage ended her sporting career.
“The circumstances at my in-laws’ place was not favour able and I could not think of pursuing sports. For me, it was a disturbed marriage and I decided to move out of the relationship. I always have my mother’s backing and she backed me even in this decision,” says Abida.