For Pakistani sportswomen, the challenge is much bigger than women in any other place. They have to face not just the usual gender stereotypes, but also societal and religious pressures. However, some amazing women have shone in sports despite taboos and hindrances. Team GT pays homage to some of the country’s most iconic sportswomen. The contributions which they have made have set the precedent very high and inspired generations to follow.
Zainab Abbas, the makeup artist turned news host turned Cricket analyst is turning heads in the Cricketing World these days. Zainab Abbas is the first female Pakistani presenter at the ICC Cricket World Cup. Having covered several local sporting events, Zainab has finally gained the much deserved international recognition. Zainab has worked for Ten Sports, her sports features have been acknowledged by well-known cricket forums such as ESPN and she has also been called the ‘National Lucky Charm’ of Pakistani Cricket.
There are hardly any female presenters in international cricket, and to have one of our own Lahori girls taking the big stage is a proud moment for the whole nation. Zainab was also recently awarded the ‘Best Female Sports Journalist’ at a Pakistani sports awards.
Zainab matches up to her male peers and her professionalism was on display throughout the interviews she conducted in post-match transmission on Ten Sports Pakistan alongside Ramiz Raja and other renowned cricket commentators.
Cricket is arguably the most popular sport for both men and women in Pakistan. Since the establishment of Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Women’s Wing in 2005, the game of cricket has advanced in leaps and bounds. Sana Mir is without a doubt the most renowned cricketer from Pakistan. She has been very vocal about the role of sports in women’s empowerment.
Sana is a role model for all those women who want to pursue their dreams. The 31-year-old Pakistani cricket team captain left engineering to pursue her career in sports.
Sana is also a two times gold medal winner in Asian Games and ICC named her as the 12th best all-rounder in world ODI career.
There was a time when Pakistani stalwarts Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan dominated the international squash arena. Jahangir Khan, during his career, won the World Open six times and the British Open a record ten times.
However, after the two retired, Pakistan couldn’t produce their successors. Finally, after a long dry spell, Pakistan is once again making its way at the highest level in squash, thanks to the 28-year-old Toorpakai from Waziristan, KPK.
Maria Toorpakai Wazir has a very interesting story. She dressed like a boy for the first 16 years of her life to participate in competitive sports as a Muslim girl, using the name Genghis Khan.
As of 2016, she is ranked 56th among female players in the world and 2009, she won third place in the world junior women’s squash championship. Moreover, Toorpakai is a national star, especially being a winner of the Salaam Pakistan Award.
Hajra Khan is celebrated as one of the greatest ambassadors of sports in Pakistan. She is the captain of Pakistan’s women football team and only player to have scored more than 100 goals in her club career. Hajra has chosen a very tough path for herself. Pakistan women’s cricket team and other individual sports still have some following in the country but football has been neglected for decades.
Hajra shines like the only star in a dark sky when it comes to Football. She is the most renowned football player from Pakistan, even ahead of her male counterparts.
21-year-old Hajra Khan made history for Pakistani national women football team when she was invited to top three German football clubs SGS Essen, FSV Gütersloh 2009 and VfL Sindelfingen to play, she spent three weeks there and played pre-season trials. Being a Pakistani international footballer that opportunity was an important milestone in her career
No list of inspiring young female athletes could be complete without the mention of Sahib-e-Asra. While she still waits for her international fame she has already made a lot of waves locally.
Sahib-e-Asra comes from a very humble background. Her father is an Imam at a local mosque in Faisalabad and has always supported her daughter despite all the criticism. The young woman started her career as an athlete runner back in school, taking part in division and district level competitions.
Asra runs for WAPDA and more recently won a gold medal in 100m race in National Athletics Championship. There have been women like Naseem Akhtar and Rabia Ashiq in past as well who have achieved even more in running but Asra’s story is a true story of how family’s support can make a huge difference in an athletes life.
