Kashmiri woman first Indian to be named as canoeing International Technical Official

A Kashmiri woman athlete earned a rare honor by becoming the first Indian to be selected as the International Technical Official (ITO) for canoeing event at the recently concluded All Africa Games 2011 held at Maputo in Mozambique.

Bilquis Mir, 26, of Srinagar, is a known canoeing champion and coach who has earned honors in different national and international events. Becoming ITO was however the biggest honor since no Indian woman has ever reached to such level in her career.

"It was dream come true for an athlete like me. It was unique experience for me. What umpires are for cricket, ITOs are for the canoeing events I was acting as a judge at finishing line. Without ITO the event cannot be judged," Bilquis told DNA.

Bilquis, who recently won the state award for outstanding sportsperson, was just 11 when she started playing canoeing. And since then there is no looking back.

"I have played the sport since I was kid. During my career I participated in different events at national and international level. I represented India in 2009 in the world cup in Hungary.  I have been the national medalist since 1998," she said.

It was 2007, the sports planners appointed her as the coach for the national team, which was a rare honour for a woman of J&K. "I was the first woman from Jammu and Kashmir to become the national coach of canoeing team from 2007 to 2010", she said.

Bilquis, who is presently coaching Kashmir sports enthusiasts, is on the international coaching panel, a rare honour for any woman sportsperson on India. "I passed my coaching course from Hungary with excellent grades.  And it proved a milestone in my life.  Plus the Sports Authority of India and J&K youth services and sports helped me when I was in Hungary for coaching course", she said.

The 26 year old canoeing champion credits her family, especially her mother for supporting her in achieving the feet in the sports. "My family stood by me like a rock. They supported me at every point. Particularly, my mother, who always stood by me. Without them I would not have reached to this level", she said.