Sindh's Martial Arts' player Saba Zahoor Role Model For Girls

We live in a society that only thinks that academic success of children is the only success in life, we fail to understand that there are many walks of life where our children could perform well and succeed.

 But still we continue to live with certain stereotypes and in a male dominated society like Sindh, things are worse for girls, they don't get equal opportunities from the society nor they are backed by their families and in the end their talents are reserved to kitchens and pampering children. 

But that is not the case Saba Zahoor Abbasi, a martial arts athlete, who has recently got her third silver medal at national level in kick-boxing. Saba is student of English (linguistics) final year at Institute of English Linguistic and Literature (IELL), University of Sindh. Saba is the only girl from her village, who has reached to university level education.

In a national event for martial arts held at Jang on 09th Feb 2020, Saba got silver medal representing University of Sindh in low-weight (47k) kick-boxing competition, which was her third silver as an athlete.

Saba hails from Dino Mako Village, Mirpur Mathelo, Ghotki that happens to be backward area of Sindh, but she overcoming all the hurdles has carried on with her passion for sports. In 2015, she got her first silver medal in athletics at Karachi, in 2018-19, she got a silver medal in Judo karate event held at Lahore.

While talking to WiseSindh Saba said: "My parents have always supported me, despite of the fact that I come from a backward and male dominated society, where a girl even going out for education is seen with suspicious eyes, yet my parents trusted me and encouraged me to take part in sports, my choice for martial arts is the vulnerable state of girls and women in Sindh and now is the that girls and women should empower themselves."

Answering a question regarding her future planning as an athlete Ms. Saba said: "there are very limited opportunities for athletes in Pakistan, though players of some sports make huge sums of money but certain sports like martial arts are neglected and athletes have to do other jobs for their living, apart from carrying on their passion for sports, but if I would get good opportunities I would carry on with sports. I thank my parents for being such supportive parents and have been always there for me."

Ms. Saba is also a badminton player, while she is member of Roshni publication as a story-teller, she visits different schools and narrates stories to school children. Her aims is that girls, especially of her area should get education and lead a better life and a life of their choice.

In this regards social activists and chairperson of Youth Action Committee (YAC) Sindhoo Nawaz Ghanghro said: "Really happy to see young Sindhi female athletes, are contributing in changing the way we look at sports in this part of the world. Moreover she is also contributing alot for Sindh and Sindhi people."