Video by: Basharat Amin | Article by: Nusrat Ali
Sumaya Jaan, from Kachdora Shopian is a new face of Cricket in Kashmir who is trying to make her career in the sports. She at her younger age started playing in local cricket events and eventually got a chance to represent J&K through Jammu Kashmir Cricket Association and played in North India. Sumaya is the 2nd Kashmiri to join NIS (National Inst of Sports) in Patiala.
Sumaya has always loved playing cricket. At age 19, she made it to the Jammu and Kashmir women’s cricket team and has since established herself as a permanent member. While it may not sound that big a deal, it hasn’t been an easy journey for Sumaya.
“It was 2007 and I was in 11th standard and my performance at Sonwar, Srinagar impressed the people around including coach N P Sing”, recalls Sumaya. She had scored 47 runs and taken 5 wickets in the match and it was her first school national.
After her registration at Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council in 2008, Sumaya started her professional cricket career. Sumaya’s remarkable performance in 2009 when she played under 19 also helped her to gain confidence. She was the only player from Kashmir among two other girls from J&K selected from north zone team in 2011. She has also received best sportsperson award in her district from Governor N N Vohra. Sumaya has jointly played more than 16 senior-junior nationals that include almost 14 senior nationals.
She went on to complete her Bachelors in Physical Education from RTM University, Nagpur, and is currently persuing a Diploma in Cricket at NIS Patiala. Once done, she is looking forward to become the second woman cricket coach from Kashmir.
Apart from exploring the game of cricket more closely to overcome her weaknesses as a player, Sumaya is busy organizing tournaments for boys in her district, in a bid to support the talent. “There’s no lack of talent in Kashmir,” she says. “But what lacks is the infrastructural support, which the government and J&K Sports Council must provide.”
