Razia Mushtaq, Gandebal’s first woman gym owner, has broken stereotypes with her choice of career. Razia, a law graduate successfully broke the taboos to become the first female fitness trainer and gym owner in her district.

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Razia hails from Kangan area of Ganderbal her story is a tale of overcoming personal and social challenges and following her heart to own an exclusive gym. She is running ‘313 Fitness Club’ gym in Kangan. 

Razia says that women here hesitate from joining a fitness centre. “I felt that women here hesitate from joining a fitness centre because gyms here in Kashmir are most probably meant for men folk. That made me think that a female-only gym would be a great thing where women can join whenever they want throughout the day,” says Razia.

Razia had faced a lot of challenges and criticism in starting up the gym centre, but she didn’t take them seriously. She said that convincing her family about this concept was not a big challenge for her. “We come from a conservative society, but still my parents were not that much reluctant. The love and cooperation of my parents and brothers gave me the courage to move forward with confidence.  All this was possible only because of their continuous support,” she said.

The bigger struggle for Razia was to find women who were interested in visiting the gym at the beginning. She remained consistent and didn’t lose her heart which finally yielded results. Razia presently has more than 50 women visiting her gym every day.

“Exercise keeps us fit and protects us from many diseases. I’m feeling happy to take this step for many women who are going through health disorders, obesity, and depression issues. I keep on motivating women to achieve good health and brain positivity. I opened this gym center so that the women folk pay attention to their health,” she said. 

Zubaida, who just joined Raziya’s gym a few days back, said that she was upset due to her health.

“I was not comfortable in joining a gym because they have male instructors, but when I heard about this gym which is for females. I was so excited to join and now I am very comfortable here. I am thankful to Razia, who is running this centre,” she said.

“Kangan village is a remote area of the Ganderbal district where people are mainly engaged in agriculture and other activities of manual labor where people do not get the good platform they should get,” Razia said.

“In Kashmir, we must have a female fitness centre in every district. I appeal to the government that they should assist females in opening up fitness centres across the Kashmir Valley,” she said.

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With her efforts to help women, their gym has become a popular base for all in Just one week those seeking fitness in Kangan area.

She urged people that Be firm. Don’t choose any career without thinking. Learn about it and choose it consciously. Always have full faith in yourself. Choose a career in which you are so happy that you never feel that you are just working to make a living. Your job pleasure for you.

A young female boxer from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district became first Kashmiri woman to fight senior nationals which were held in Bhopal.

Shariya Manzoor (21), a resident of Nehama village in Kakapora, who is pursuing her Bachelor’s from Government Degree College Pulwama made it to pre quarter finals where she lost to world champion holder boxer.

Boxing is an Olympic game which are very rarely played in Kashmir and reaching to senior nationals in this field is considered to be a big thing.

Talking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Shariya Manzoor said that she could have performed better had there been such infrastructure in Kashmir as players have to buy items required for practice in boxing themselves.

Manzoor believes that she can do wonders in this field, if sports department along with sports fraternity will support her.

Though Shariya didn’t won any round in pre-quarters but her bravery and techniques were praised by one and all, while she was also praised for wearing Hijab even during the game, said other players who were part of the group accompanying her.

Becoming first woman to reach pre-quarters in National Championship is not a little thing but i don’t want to stop here as I want to compete in more mega stages and prove my mettle, Shariya said.

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Kashmiri woman are very much talented and can do wonders in any field if they will be supported well, she said.

She said that lack of infrastructure is becoming an obstacle for dozens of youth especially girls who are interested in martial arts and other sports but are forced to choose some other field.

“My dream is to reach to the international stage and perform well in mega events but I want support from the government so that I can prove my mettle at mega stages,” she said.

She said that she is practicing hard and learning some art forms and boxing at the Lion’s Den academy in Pulwama and she was hopeful that she can participate in mega international events and showcase her skills.

Notably, Shariya has won six medals at national level in different martial arts so far.

The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Dr. Owais Ahmed on Tuesday interacted with the players selected for National SQAY championship.

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04 players have been selected for Junior and Senior National SQAY championship scheduled to be held at Indoor Stadium Bhagwati Nagar Jammu from 30th December 2022 to 2nd January 2023.

While interacting with the players, Dr. Owais extended best wishes to them and said District Administration is committed to develop sports infrastructure in the district and support the youth who come forward to show their talent.