Kashmir's Judo Jewel: Kabra Altaf's grit forges glory path

Srinagar, Mar 8: From the Nishat area of Srinagar emerged a young girl whose determination and grit would take her to places. Kabra Altaf, now a well-known name in judo circles, nurtured a dream since childhood - to make a mark as a sportsperson and bring glory to her native place Kashmir.

Kabra's journey was one of focus and unwavering passion. While many get lured by conventional career paths, she remained steadfast in her pursuit of judo, a martial art that demanded immense physical and mental toughness.

"My father's inspirational words inspired me to take up judo professionally. I began my athletic journey at home, where I played many sports, and then transitioned to professional training at SKISC Srinagar," she said.

On being asked about her memorable moments or achievements from her judo career, Kabra said "Alhamdulillah, I am grateful for everything I have achieved in my judo career so far, but I am particularly proud of my comeback after a career-threatening injury. After being on rest for over a year, I returned to win a gold medal."

"As a female judo player, especially in a place like Kashmir, I have faced many challenges, including social stigma, pressure, lack of recognition, fake social media influences, and inadequate resources like sports recovery centres, coaching, and proper infrastructure. However, these challenges have taught me a lot, especially patience."

She further said that balancing her training and competition schedules with her personal life requires a lot of focus and commitment. "I maintain clear priorities and make adjustments as needed to achieve a balance. It's difficult to achieve a perfect 50/50 balance in sports, but we, as humans, need to understand what matters most and make informed decisions."

"Judo has given me most of what I have in life and I’m very thankful for having chosen this sport. Nonetheless, every sport possesses different challenges and how you battle them out is something that defines you."

On being asked what message or advice you have for young girls in Kashmir who aspire to pursue judo or any other sport, she said "You will be welcomed in a sports family if you truly want to play. You just need to believe in yourself, work hard, and practice fair play."

"I see a bright future for judo in Kashmir. Proper infrastructure, coaching, and a good sports policy are essential to promote this world-class sport in the region."

Kabra said that besides judo, I enjoy swimming, reading novels, and listening to Sufi music.

Lastly, what are your future goals or aspirations in your judo career? "My future goals in judo are to continue playing, advocate for genuine sportsmanship, and fight harder to achieve my aspirations."

"On Women's Day, my message to women is: We don't need to put men down to build ourselves up. Women are naturally empowered, and we are proud of it. We have accomplished a lot, breaking down barriers, dismantling stereotypes, and driving progress towards a more just and equal world. We should all support women on the front lines and invest our time in ending violence against women and promoting women's inclusion and leadership in all aspects of life," Kabra said.