PESHAWAR: Rising above socio-cultural barriers, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa athlete Salma Ali has become a source of encouragement for young women aiming to pursue sports in Pakistan.
Salma, who represented the Higher Education Commission (HEC) at the 54th National Athletics Championship in Karachi, delivered an impressive performance by securing one gold and two silver medals.
Belonging to the conservative Malakand Division, where social traditions often make it difficult for women to enter professional sports, Salma managed to win her family’s confidence through her commitment and talent. Her family now fully backs her sporting ambitions.
She holds a Master’s degree in Sports Sciences from the University of Central Punjab and is presently training in Peshawar under noted coach Abid Afridi.
Salma follows a demanding routine that includes gym-based fitness sessions, planned nutrition and endurance training as she continues to improve her performance.
Speaking to media representative Ghani-ur-Rehman, Salma said winning medals at the national level was a great honour, but her real ambition was to represent Pakistan internationally.
“Winning at the national level is a huge honor, but my ultimate goal is to represent Pakistan internationally and raise the green crescent flag high on global podiums,” she said.
Expressing confidence in hard work and divine help, she added: “Allah never lets anyone’s efforts go to waste. InshaAllah, my hard work will pay off, and I will make the nation proud on the international stage.”
