This Downtown girl has won 11 gold medals in martial arts

She won the ‘Best Fighter Woman’ title after she clinchedgold in an International Thang-Ta Championship at Imphal in Manipur in November2018 and bagged another gold medal at World Invitational Championship held inPhilippines in April this year.

A martial arts rising star from Kashmir, 19-year-old FizaNazir has won 11 gold medals and green, blue and yellow belt in Thang-Ta sport.

   

Daughter of a former athlete, Fiza Nazir of Fateh Kadalneighbourhood in Downtown, Sriangar started her sports journey at the age ofnine.

“When I was in my second or third grade, my father (NazirAhmad) an athlete, who was associated with football and weight lifting foryears, told me, ‘if I had a son, he would have pursued my dream of becoming achampion’,” says Fiza.

This became a challenge for Fiza and her younger sister. Incoming years, Fiza prepared herself for martial arts. Beating all odds, Fizaover the years has made her mark in the Thang-Ta sport.

“I have won 11 gold, nine silver, seven bronze, five statetrophies, and green, blue, and yellow belt,” Fiza says with pride in her eyes.

Now, Fiza’s father doesn’t desire a son. He is proud of hisdaughter’s achievements. “She broke the stereotype. No more, I dream of havinga son. My daughters are equal to boys in all respects,” says Nazir.

Fiza, on the other hand, is equally proud of her father, whodespite odds and societal pressure provided all possible facilities and supportto her daughter.

“Besides my father, the whole family has been verysupportive throughout my journey. Sportsmanship has been running in my blood,”says Fiza.

She has played and won against countries like China, Bhutan,Philippines etc. The last one she played against South Korea.

Fiza says playing martial arts gives her immensesatisfaction and energy.

“Thang-Ta is a highly satisfying game. I’m playing formyself,” says Fiza.

However, she gives the credit of her achievements to hercoach, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, who is associated with the sport for the last 20years.

She says it wouldn’t have been possible for her to win theseawards without his guidance. “Winning or losing is the part of the sports, butgiving moral support to a player pushes him/her for success,” she says.

So is the dedication of Fiza towards the game that shedropped her academic year.

“It was difficult to do practice and studies simultaneously,so I decided to keep my studies on hold for a year. But now I am preparing forthe NEET,” says Fiza.

“One thing I love in sports is discipline. Your brain dumpseverything, once you are in the game,” she adds.

“I live in the downtown and during turmoil it becomesdifficult for me to go outside, but I always make it a point not to miss mypractice classes,” says Fiza.

Despite performing well in her field, Fiza Nazir argues thatthere is no monetary support from the State Sports Council for the players.”Every time ministers and other government officials came to watch sportsprograms, they announced a long list of facilities and benefits for theplayers. But later none was delivered,” she says.

The sports sector in Kashmir lacks many facilities. Shedemanded that it is the time for authorities to address players’ demands andboost the field of sports in Kashmir. “I haven’t received any kind of help fromthe federation or any other authority so far,” she expressed withdisappointment.

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