Remembering Shahida Raza: A Trailblazer in Pakistani Hockey

Image source: Tribune

Shahida Raza was a prominent Pakistani field hockey player who made significant contributions to the sport and to the promotion of gender equality in sports. She was born in Karachi in 1969 and was introduced to the sport of hockey at a young age. She quickly demonstrated her talent and passion for the game, which ultimately led her to represent Pakistan at the international level.

Image source: Dawn news

Throughout her career, Shahida faced many challenges as a female player in a male-dominated sport. Despite the difficulties, she remained committed to promoting hockey and advancing gender equality in sports. She played an instrumental role in establishing the Women’s Hockey Association in Pakistan, which aimed to provide opportunities for women to participate in hockey and create a more inclusive environment for female players.

Unfortunately, Shahida’s life was cut short when she passed away in 2017. She was 27 years old when she died in a shipwreck off the coast of Italy. Passengers on board came from Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, and Iran all trying to cross illegally to Europe. The wooden boat was thought to be carrying around 200 people; over 60 are known to have died. Her death was a great loss to the Pakistani hockey community and to the promotion of gender equality in sports. However, her legacy lives on, and she continues to inspire young female

Image source: BBC news

athletes to follow their dreams and strive for equality in sports.