Mubashir Bukhari
Srinagar (NVI): On a cold winter morning in Kashmir, 25-year-old Insha Wadoo gets out of her bed, dresses up in a tracksuit, ties her shoes and sets off for her daily run.
A resident of downtown in Srinagar, Insha wants to become the Valley’s first female professional runner.
The sight of Insha, running up and down the streets of Rainawari in Srinagar in modest-looking running gear, is common for locals.
Despite facing a lot of criticism for choosing sports as a career option, Insha’s morale is high. “I don’t mind people criticising me for being a woman and an athlete,” says Insha.
She has won all the championships she competed in since 2012 and makes every little effort to see herself at national or even at international level.
“Running means everything to me. I want to run all my life and even the thought of ever being unable to run gives me goosebumps. It’s one of the basics of life for me– eating, drinking, sleeping and running,” says Insha.
She began running in 2010 and then never looked back. “I started running during my school days. I didn’t have coach that time; neither had any idol to follow. But now after winning a series of individual events, I want to run like great athlete P T Usha,” says the young runner.
She won her first road race in 2010 which was organised by Shaheen Sports Syndicate in Srinagar. In 2011 and 2012, she won another edition of Srinagar Marathon and Women’s College Annual Road and Cycle Race respectively.
After winning many events at school level, Insha joined Women’s College MA Road where she bagged ‘Best Athlete of the Year’ award consecutively for three years.
In 2013, Insha won 400-meter state open athletic championship. The event was organized by J&K Amateur Athletic Association. Later that year, she won 1500 meter race in Jammu.
“Though difficult for a girl to choose this field in Kashmir but I am very thankful to those who supported me especially my coach Khurshid Ahmad,” she says..
In 2015, she won ‘Kashmir Cyclothon 2015, Pedal for Kashmir’ and Padalon Cycle Marathon in 2016. Not only this, she was the first Kashmiri female runner to attend National Integration Camp by NCC Group HQ of Bihar and Jharkhand.
She also bagged third place in ‘First International Marathon’ and received cash prize of Rs 30,000.
Insha’s journey from an ordinary schoolgirl to an emerging athlete has not been a cakewalk.
She fought against all odds to train herself and achieve recognition. Though she couldn’t play for the state or at national level but she has achieved much more than her expectations.
Insha feels proud to have participated in an 50 km run with Australian ultra-marathon runner, Pat Farmer.
In 2017, Insha was felicitated for her achievements in the field of the athletics and cycling in a function held in Ludhiana, Punjab.
On the occasion, Insha was awarded Rs 30,000 by the Noble Foundation. However, the chief guest and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was impressed by her accolades and humble background, awarded her with Rs 1 Lakh.
In 2018, Insha bagged two gold medals at a championship held at BSF ground Paloura Jammu. She bagged medals in 400 metre and 800-metre events.
Insha also participated in Airtel Delhi Half Marathon and secured 13th position.
She also participated in senior national athletic cup federation at Patiala in the 5000 meter track event.
Insha has participated in prestigious events such as Senior National Inter-state Athletic championship held at Hyderabad, which is one of the blings in her career.
In Kashmir J&K Police Marathon, she has won five times and came atop for two times in cycling. In the college annual running and cycle races, she has stood first consecutively for three years, which also gave her the title of ‘Best Athlete of the Year’, all those years.
Last year, she was going to participate in Dubai Full Marathon to represent India but due to prevailing situation in Kashmir, she was not able to make entry for the event.
Insha is currently under the supervision of Paveela Prashar Bali, who is founder of “The Run Club” in Chandigarh. “She is very helpful to me and monthly she is paying me money for the diet so that I remain fit. I am very thankful to her,” Insha said.
After graduating in Home Sciences, Insha is now pursuing B.P.Ed. from Government College of Physical Education, Ganderbal. “All I need is just one chance to prove myself. I am not asking for more.”
She however, said that government is not helping her. “Recently I got a contractual government job, but as soon as I was going to join my duties, my order was revoked,” she said.
