Shabir Ahmed hopes to become first from Kashmir to represent India in Kho Kho.
The 24-year-old is among the 52 players selected for the national camp in Faridabad from across the country. If he manages to get into the final squad, he will be the first player from the Valley to play for the country.
“Representing my country is the ultimate dream. I am delighted to be part of the national camp. Rubbing shoulders with the top
players of the country has boosted my confidence,” said Shabir.
“The training here is very different. For the first time in my life, I have worked on my fitness. I have understood the importance
of diet, fitness and recovery. It has been a different experience,” he added.
Shabir has played the game on the soil his entire life, but at the national camp, he was introduced to the mat, a pleasant
surprise for him.
“On the mat, your speed is reduced, but at the same time, you are injury-free. I can dive without any fear of getting injured,” he
said.
Shabir, an avid cricket lover, switched to Kho Kho in 2013 after his elder brother Bilal Ahmed, a physical education teacher,
noticed his running speed while fielding.
“My elder brother told me as there is so much competition in cricket, I should start playing kho kho because of my athletic
ability,” recalled Shabir.
“When I was selected for the state team, my father told me once I will be done with playing, I should give kho kho coaching to
the youngsters in Kashmir. His dream is mine now, and I want kho kho to be popular in the Valley, just like cricket and football.
Hopefully, I will be able to live my father’s dream,” he said.
