Meet Kashmir’s water sports coach who represented India in World Cup

Bilquis Mir is an international water sports coach, Kayaking Star and the first women participant from India who represented India in 2009 World Cup held in Szeged, Hungary.
From national to international level, she wears many hats of her success and dedication. She is an inspiration for hundreds of young players aspiring to take part in water sports in valley.
On 04 March, 2023, Bilquis got a new surprise as she was selected as judge in upcoming Asian Games 2023 to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistaan.
Bilquis was born in Khanyar area of Srinagar and she started her schooling at SA Modern School Babar Shah after that, she passed out from Kothi Bagh higher secondary and completed her graduation from Women’s College Maulana Azad road Srinagar.
From early childhood, she would play with water and she had never thought she would become sports player of national and international repute.
When Bilquis started taking part water sports there was no concept of sports in Kashmir. However, she was determined.
“I started my struggle from my home. I faced opposition in my family as they did not allow me to go sports because it was a different field then in 1998. I had no role model even. In my initial days no one appreciated me. I broke down many times but never gave up. I was a girl and I had to prove myself,” said Bilquis.
She started playing water sports during her school days. Once she went to Nehru Park near the water sports centre then and started practicing in the racing boat. In 1998, with only two old boats to practice, Bilquis began her paddling career from the lake.
“When I started the boat capsized many times. Then I used to bunk my regular classes. I was in love with water from my childhood. Dal Lake is lifeline for me. Had there been no Dal Lake I would not have done it,” she said.
“I started from zero. I had no sponsors then. What I only had was my strength. Then after some years my mother understood that I was on right track and started supporting me and she became my strength,” she said.
Later Bulquis took part in Jash-ne-Dal, an event organized by police in which she got the first position which boosted her confidence. “Then I started excelling at the national level,” she said.
From 1998 to 2006, Bilquis represented Jammu and Kashmir and won more than 25 national-level medals.
Bilquis is the first woman from Jammu and Kashmir to coach National team. She was the first women participant from India who participated in ICF Sprint racing World Cup in Kayaking and Canoeing in Szeged, Hungray in 2009.
“When I participated in World Cup, I observed that the judges’ bench would only consist of males. So, this is like a big achievement for me that I have been appointed as the judge and this will bring a big change for our women,” she said.
Notably, Bilquis is the first Indian woman to be induced into an international referee panel.
The 35-year-old player said when a girl excels in Kashmir, people raise many questions but no one sees the hard work and struggle one goes through.
“It was all a learning experience for me amid so much of struggle. When I went to Hungry and Germany, I just wanted to come back to Kashmir. I wanted to do something for the aspiring players. I wanted to become a support for them,” she said.
She is the one who was selected as National Coach (chief) Women’s Team in Kayaking and Canoeing up to 2012 Olympic Landon. Bilquis was also selected as a National Coach for National Coaching Camp of CANOE ALAOM SENIOR from Jan 07 to March 2015 held at Bhopal.
She is also the first Indian Woman in Kayaking and Canoeing who conducted strength and conditioning course at the University of Birmingham, UK.
Bilquis was also selected as Chief Coach Women National Team participated in under 23 Canoe Slalom World Championship held in Italy in 2018.
Notably, in 2020 she was appointed as a judge by the Asian Canoe confederation to conduct the 18th Asian Games Canoe Spirit in Indonesia as an International Technical Official (ITO).
She is a proud sports player to represent India at the international level. “Now girls are also participating in water sports which is really encouraging,” she said.
“Women empowerment does not mean I am doing a job today. We need an equal status with equal opportunities. Women should be given equal space in decision-making as well,” she said. “It was a beautiful journey and I never gave up,” said Bilquis.
“ I struggled a lot. I have fought a long battle to achieve this feat,” she said.
Bilquis aspires to put Indian water sports on the global map. She aims to find talent not only in Jammu & Kashmir but in other parts of the country where water sports is played.
Notably, Bilquis runs a water sports training centre at Nehru Park in Srinagar, which is the best centres in the country. There are nearly 200 students who get trained free of cost.
“We procure the world’s best equipment. We are training girls and boys over the past several years. We are working to popularize this game in the valley,” she said.
Bilquis said there is a scope in two games in Kashmir which are winter sports and water sports. “We can create professionals and there is a need of planning,” she said.
Asifa Sultani, 23, is one such young player who is getting trained at the water sports centre in Kayaking and Canoeing since 2012. Asifa is a gold medallist in water sports and has won 20 medals at the national level so far.
Vilayat Hussain is another player who is enrolled in the centre for over 12 years in water sports. “I have won 32 national medals in water sports. This is an important institute that makes our career,” the 30-year-old player said.