Afshan Ashiq, 26, stole the limelight at the recent Fit India Dialogue 2020, where she, along with other athletes and fitness enthusiasts, interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Afshan, who is the captain of Jammu and Kashmir’s women’s football team and coach, shared with Modi her fitness regime, and the importance of being mentally fit.
Back in 2017, Afshan grabbed the headlines after an altercation with a J&K policeman, after which she was labelled stone pelter-turned-footballer. On that day, Afshan was with her team, taking them to a government high school in Srinagar for practice. There was a protest rally then, and some boys were pelting stones at the police. A police constable, by mistake, slapped a teammate of Afshan, to which she reacted by pelting stones. Her photograph, back then, went viral on social media.
Afshan, who plays for private clubs in Indian Women's League, based out of Mumbai, spoke exclusively to THE WEEK on sports infrastructure in Kashmir, her admiration for cricketer M.S. Dhoni, the abrogation of Article 370, and more. Excerpts:
Q/How does it feel to be the captain of Kashmir’s first women’s football team?
A/It feels great. It is an honour representing Jammu and Kashmir. Most of the time, I am playing for my club, but representing J&K is an all-together different feeling. At present, there are 50 girls in our team. We need better infrastructure for the game in J&K. A lot of young girls are showing interest in the game. I hope we can give them the right training and support needed.
I am also training a lot of young girls. I do a lot of research in that direction and teach them all that I learn more about football from Google and watching videos.
Q/What was it like participating in PM Modi’s Fit India Dialogue?
A/It was quite motivational for me. Very few people get the chance to speak to the prime minister like that. He was keen to hear more from me. This [Fit India Dialogue] is a great movement to keep yourself fit and inspire others to stay fit. I have given my suggestions to the prime minister. I have also submitted a proposal to his office, where I have mentioned all that can be done in Kashmir to improve women’s football. I hope they will seriously consider it.
Q/What are the hurdles in the development of women’s football in Jammu and Kashmir?
A/First and foremost, we need better infrastructure. The association should organise more games in J&K. I see a lot of spark in young girls who want to play football without any inhibitions. So, they need the right training and support. When I started playing, I used to play mostly with boys. They used to taunt me. But now, I can perform better than boys.
My family supports me now. But they had problems seeing me play football earlier. I used to even play cricket. My father was keener that I play cricket. My family told me that in football, boys will push me, unlike in cricket. Back then, they were concerned like any parents. Now, they are very supportive. My brother calls me every day and encourages me to play the game more often. I am thankful to my family for the support they are giving me now. A lot of parents of girls are now keen on them playing outdoor games, which is an encouraging sign I must say.
Q/You have represented clubs in the Indian Women's League, too.
A/The more you practice, the better you are at the game. That’s the advantage I had in Mumbai, representing private clubs. There is competition to perform well. Plus, these clubs always give us the freedom to play with teams of even five or seven. We need such private clubs that encourage women’s football in Kashmir.
Q/ It has been a year since the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir. Has it, in your opinion, brought peace and development in Kashmir?
A/Yes, it has. Stone pelting is not there. Everyone is happy. Everyone wants a peaceful life at the end of the day. I hope we will see more development in Kashmir in the coming days. There is so much that the state and its people can offer.
Q/ You are a big fan of M.S. Dhoni. You said you always want to remain calm on the field like Dhoni.
A/It is tough to remain calm on the field, so I emulate Dhoni. I have observed him a lot. Dhoni is also a keeper like me. Earlier, I used to be short-tempered. Staying positive and calm matters a lot while playing any game. I am now always calm on the field. It is just a conscious decision to not get angry on the field, and is working well for me.