Fists of fury from Sopore shatter stereotypes

Baramulla, Feb 24: A 17-year-old Snobar Akhtar from the Seelo area of Sopore town has secured a silver medal at the All India Pencak Silat Martial Art Championship held in Mumbai. Snobar's journey to success has been marked by a relentless pursuit of her passion.

Snobar first developed a keen interest in Martial Arts when she was in class 6th in 2019. Inspired by the achievements of international boxer and Martial Arts player Marigona Beadini, she decided to become a fearless Martial Arts player from the Valley.

Initially hesitant to share her aspirations with her family, Snobar eventually mustered the courage to express her desire in front of the family to pursue Martial Arts.

Talking to Greater Kashmir Snobar said that earlier she was hesitant to share it with her family. "But I mustered my courage and expressed my desire before my family and asked them to get me enrolled in a Martial Arts academy," she said.

Her training began at the Seven Star Martial Arts Academy, where she honed her skills and showcased her talent at local platforms, winning her first gold medal at the district-level championship.

Undeterred by challenges, Snobar continued to climb the ranks, bagging gold and silver medals at various competitions held at the state and national levels.

In December 2023, she clinched a silver medal at the Wushu championship held in Uttarakhand. Before that, she secured a gold medal in the Taekwando championship held in Haryana and another gold in a Taekwando championship held in New Delhi in 2022.

Snobar boasts an impressive collection of 13 state-level medals and 5 national-level medals, establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with in Martial Arts at district and local levels.

Currently pursuing her 10+2 education at Girls Higher Secondary Sopore, Snobar faces a dilemma.

"My parents were supportive of my passion initially. But they are now asking me to focus on my upcoming class 12th board examinations and temporarily halt my Martial Arts practice," she said.

Snobar, however, remains undeterred, having faced similar situations in the past she managed to maintain a balance between her studies and Martial Arts training.

"I used to go to tuition in the morning hours and go for Martial Arts training after school hours. This is how I tried to manage the time," she said.

In February 2024, Snobar joined the Chinar Yuva Club in Baramulla, training under the guidance of Moin Ahmad. Despite already possessing considerable experience, Snobar continues to impress her coach.

"When she joined in February this year, she was properly trained and had gained a lot of experience in Martial Arts. She just needed some guidance for further improvement, and she is making us proud by showcasing the spirit of a true Martial Artist at bigger platforms," he said.