Srinagar, Jan 01 (KNO): Masifa Mushtaq, a promising young sportsperson from Batnoor Tral, has brought laurels to Jammu and Kashmir by winning a gold medal at the National Junior Championship 2025 held in Guwahati, Assam.
Her achievement has been widely hailed in the area as a testament to the growing sports culture and the rising participation of girls in competitive athletics.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Masifa said she has been actively involved in sports for the past several years and has steadily progressed through various competitive levels. “I started by playing at the block and district level, then represented at the state level, and now I have had the honour of competing and winning at the national level. This journey has been challenging but deeply rewarding,” she said.
Masifa highlighted the positive impact of sports infrastructure development in Tral, particularly the establishment of the Indoor Sports Stadium, which she believes has transformed the local sporting landscape. “After the indoor stadium was started in Tral, many girls began participating in different sports activities. This is a very encouraging and healthy sign for our society,” she added.
Emphasising the role of support systems in achieving success, the gold medallist said that no athlete can reach their goals without encouragement from family and guidance from coaches. “Family support and coach support are essential to achieve any goal. I am extremely thankful to my parents and my coach for standing by me at every step of my journey,” Masifa said.
She also expressed concern over the growing social challenges affecting youth, particularly substance abuse. “Earlier, drug involvement was mostly seen among boys, but now even girls are getting affected. It is very important to engage girls in sports and other constructive activities to keep them away from such dangers,” she said
Masifa further underlined the immense potential of youth in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that with improved facilities and sustained encouragement, many more young talents can emerge at national and international platforms. “The youth in J&K are highly talented. With better infrastructure and opportunities, more and more youngsters can showcase their talent and make the region proud,” she said—(KNO)