Meet Shabir Ahmad : First Kashmiri Youth to Represent India in Kho Kho Ultimate League

Srinagar/(Mudasir Maqbool) : A Youth From Central Kashmiri’s Budgam district become the First Kashmiri to Represent India in Kho Kho Ultimate League in 2021.A 25 Year Shabir ahmad Baghat S/o Gh Ahmad Hails from wathora area of Budgam Emerges Kho Kho player amid struggle to achieve this feat.He played this Ultimate League at Manav Rachna International institute Faridabad Haryana where his team Chetah 2nd runner up position on 16 January 2021.Talking to Correspondent he said, playing kho kho gives me the freedom to express myself gives him joy and hope while Representing Country was my ultimate goal I am delight to be part of.he said,Shabir said, Rubbing shoulders with the top player’s of the Country has boosted my morale & confidence which helps my carrier to become Kho Kho Icon.In Kashmir there is lack of infrastructure of this game as we play on soil at home while rest of the country players practises on Mat which helps them from Injuries.”On the Mat Your speed is reduced but at the same time your are injury free and can dive without any fear”he added,A cricket lover Shabir switched to Kho Kho in 2013 insisted by his elder brother who is Physical Education teacher at Govt school after notices his running speed.
He lost mother in 2014 left him shattered and after six months he back on Kho kho as his brother told him your mother loved this game.he said,I received award for best runner and all rounder at state level in 2015 in this game despite unpopular game i am working dawn to desk to guide the youth in the field.I want kho kho popular in valley as it was my father’s dream he left this world in 2019 and take this opportunity to give coaching to the budding kho kho player’s in our area as i launched my own academy also where I and my brother guide to the youth in this game.he added,If MAT will be available and doing practice on them, here will be lot of kho kho player’s from valley who will compete with the rest of the country.I thank Bhupinder SinghThirthi who is Secretary kho kho federation Jammu and Kashmir is also backbone of this game here.Shabir told,Kho Kho is a popular tag game invented in Maharashtra, India.It is played by teams of 12 nominated players out of fifteen, of which nine enter the field who sit on their knees (Chasing Team), and 3 extra (Defending Team) who try to avoid being touched by members of the opposing team. It is one of the two most popular traditional tag games in the Indian subcontinent, the other being Kabaddi.The sport is widely played across South Asia and has a strong presence in South Africa and England.Kho-kho is a traditional Indian sport, that is one of the oldest outdoor sports, dating back to ancient India. It is played most often by school children in India and Pakistan and is a competitive game.Mudasir Maqbool is Journalist based from Kashmir writing for National media outlets.He has PG in Politics & have pursued Master’s in Journalism and Mass Communication.He also works for Peace and are doing Social Activism.He tweets at @MudasirJourno and can be reached.