Pakistan needs young girls like “Shahida Abbasi”

Quetta-based Pakistani martial artist Shahida Abbasi won a gold medal in the 42 kg women’s karate category. Thanks to Shahida Abbasi’s outstanding performance, Pakistan won its first gold medal in the 13th South Asian Games.

Shahid Abbasi proudly lifted the nation with a gold medal in karate competitions and easily won the match against Nepali rivals by a score of 25-42.

The 24-year-old Shahida started learning karate about 12 years ago, in 2004 mainly because of her dedication and hard work. She has won 11 national and international medals for its Hazara club in Quetta and also for her country. A feature that surpasses the rest.

Shahida belongs to the Hazara community in Baluchistan. Coming from a background lacking in facilities and traditionally dominated by men, it was not easy for Shahida to achieve her goal.

Through her hard work, she has taken pride in not only her parents but the entire country. Pakistan needs young girls like “Shahida Abbasi” a proud daughter of Pakistan

In the 13th South Asian Games 2019 in Nepal, Pakistan won two gold medals, three silver medals and four bronze medals in karate.

Shahida, who hails from the Hazara town of Quetta, believes that the victory is not just her own, but that of everyone who supported her abilities and trusted in her abilities. She also said she was proud to highlight her city, which was formerly known as “blasts and target killings,” but is also now described as the reason for her success and hard work.

Back in 2017, Shotkwan’s highly skilled woman requested the government to support her and the karate game.

When we are asked to compete, we have greater support if they admired the players, we are excited about this. She has told to Dawn.

The talented martial artist, who is also Pakistan’s first international karate athlete, believes that Baluchistan province has a lot of potentials. Talking to the Arab News Pakistan edition, she said, “Give the people of Baluchistan a chance, whether, in education, sports or any other field, they will prove themselves.”

It was not an easy feat for Shahida to win a medal for the country, she explained how the boys used to slander her on drills but the steel woman paid no attention to them and was determined to achieve success.

Today, the winner responds to all the haters and people who ridiculed him for his performance. Launched for the first time in 1984, the South Asian Games, formerly known as the South Asian Federation Games, is a two-year multiplayer game featuring Bangladeshi, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These Seven countries participate in this.

 Nepal leads the sport with 15 gold medals, followed by Sri Lanka and India winning three gold medals. Bangladesh came in close to third with two gold medals, while Bhutan and the Maldives have yet to win any gold.

She said expressing her happiness, “I am so happy and thankful to Allah because I was the first player from Pakistan to play at international level and I gave my country a good start by winning a gold medal.”

When I went to a karate learning academy, the boys in my neighborhood used to scoff at me. I will not answer them ever and continue my journey with full positivity. Today, I answered them with my excellent performance.

She credits her victory to her father. “Martial arts are not for girls,” said our neighbors. But my father, my main supporter, kept pressuring me and I’m proud of him today.

Shahida, the second of four sisters, says she phoned her father in Quetta to tell him she had won.

“But he already knew! He was so happy and said I’m proud of her, “he said.

Another factor that led to Shahida’s departure for gold was to change people’s views about Baluchistan. She says Baluchistan is considered a backward province but it has immense potential.

 Mohammad Shah, Shahida’s coach praised her “excellent performance”.”They have performed better than we expected,” Shah told Arab News, adding that with the government’s support, players can perform even better.

If the government arranges for us for about two months of training camp, the medals can be double. All my players were excellent. However, Shahida Abbasi was extra intelligent.

Pakistan needs young girls like “Shahida Abbasi” our proud young star.

When asked if she had a message for other girls of his age, she said: “Self-esteem and self-confidence. With these two things, you can become prominent in any field.

Shahida said her family and teachers played an important role in her success. “My father has supported more in my success although my family has also supported me.”

However, the behavior of those around him was disappointing, as expected.

“I had to listen to a lot of things and I had to quit the game,” Shahida said.

She added, “But with the support of my father, mother, and siblings, I did not give up.” Shahida said she responded to people’s taunt with more diligence and work

She described her experience at the South Asian Games, saying it was the toughest competition of her life.

 “Safe games were very difficult for me and I never have thought that I would win a gold medal,” she said.

This Baloch girl has broken stereotypes with her hard work. There is no doubt that players like Abbasi are putting Pakistan on the martial arts map.

One of the most heartbreaking things about Shahida is that She has not kept the art of karate to herself, but has decided to reach out to other girls in her community. She is currently teaching sports to other hardworking young girls at the Karate Academy in the small town of Hazara. She expressed her views by saying these words “I don’t want a girl to surrender on her goals due to societal pressure,”

Shahida Abbasi’s example is that in Pakistan there is no shortage of talent and if effective help and assistance can be provided with the help of the government, it will achieve maximum success in life. Pakistan needs young people like Shahida to emerge on the map of the world.