Naveed Yousuf Hailing from Payir area of District Pulwama got a chance to play Rugby first time at his school in 2006, when he was 15 years old. During an inter school match when his team won a gold, he just became fascinated with the game.
Many athletes go through a difficult process of coping with perfectionism and their fear of failure but this was quite opposite with the rugby lover who didn’t took any offence and went to request his trainer repeatedly to just let him play a tackle match.
Remaining staunchly focused, Naveed started taking separate classes and tips from his coach on Sundays and finally being in a junior category he was successful in playing a tackle match with the senior players.
Soon he was selected for the national tournaments as well, slowly Naveed grew under the mentorship of Coach, Mr. Irfan Aziz Botta. In 2014, his team won a silver medal in All India National Seniors Rugby Tournament.
Naveed has played 6 nationals. He plays as a prop in his team and is the only national Rugby player from South Kashmir with a silver and gold medal to his tag. Naveed is a level 1 qualified coach and voluntarily trains students of district Pulwama and Shopian on weekends.
He recently played National event in snow witnessed in Kashmir Khelo India where jk bagged bronze medal.Certainly, journey of Naveed is inspiration for all youth in Kashmir and outside.
