By: Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar: A nineteen-year-old girl from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district has brought laurels to the whole Jammu and Kashmir by bagging gold medal in youth games All India National Championship 2021.
Shariya Manzoor, a resident of Nehama village in Kakapora belt of Pulwama district who is pursuing her Bachelor’s from Government Degree College Pulwama wants to become a boxing champion.
While talking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Shariya said that she is very happy to win the gold medal at national level in boxing and she will work hard as her dream is to reach the Olympics.
She further said that she was interested in boxing since her childhood but in absence of any infrastructure and coach in the district she faced various challenges.
“I had to merge with martial arts in absence of any support from the government side despite contacting the sports council and others,” she said, adding that, “I have won gold medals in the national Thang soo do championship besides that I have also participated in the belt wrestling championship.
“Without learning boxing, anywhere, I have won silver medals twice in UT level championships in the last two consecutive years but still there is no proper support from the government and I am wandering to get a special boxing coach,” she said.
Shariya said that lack of infrastructure is becoming an obstacle for dozens of youth especially girls who are very much interested in boxing but are forced to choose some other field.
“My dream is to become a boxing champion but I want support from the government so that I can prove my mettle at mega stages,” she said.
“I am practicing hard and learning some art forms and boxing at the Lion’s Den academy in Pulwama and I am hopeful that I can participate in the Olympics and show my boxing skills.”—(KNO)