Sister power: Skiing duo eye more glory for country

Naltar Valley of G-B is home to skiers who are using their talent to make Pakistan proud.

GILGIT:

Born in the midst of the snowcapped Naltar Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Asma Afzal and Sonia Afzal grew up watching their relatives skiing on snow-covered slopes. “I don’t exactly remember when they started skiing,” shared Sher Afzal, their father and trainer.

The scenic Naltar Valley is amongst those areas of Gilgit-Baltistan where mobile signals and landline services are not available. The people of the valley are sometimes struggling for the basic amenities. It is 50 kilometers away from Gilgit.

But these hardships have not come in the way of 10-year-old Asma and eight year old Sonia’s passion for skiing.

The sisters first participated in a competition, Sadia Khan Ski Cup, in January this year. It was organised by the Pakistan Air Force in Naltar Valley. Asma and Sonia bagged the second position in it.



The little champs then went on winning gold medals in another skiing competition. It was organised by Pakistan Air Force under Chief of Air Staff Open Sky Championship, held in Naltar Valley last month.

“Skiing is an amazing experience and I enjoy it a lot,” shared the gold medalist Sonia. “I believe in hard work and I wish to win more awards in the future.”

As for the elder sister Asma, she wishes to become a champion and owes her success to her family. “My parents and uncles are the reasons as to why Sonia and I have reached this stage,” said Asma.

Family sport

The girls belong to a family of skiers who have excelled in the game and earned laurels for the country.

Sher is the eldest brother of Muhammad Karim, who was the only Pakistani to compete in the Sochi Winter Olympics 2014, in Russia. Not only Karim, but his brother Sher, along with three more brothers, have represented Pakistan in this sport internationally. “We are five brothers. I can proudly say that we have represented our country in skiing,” said Sher.

According to the delighted Sher, Karim is brilliant in skiing. “I want my daughters to outshine him in this sport.”

Sher is an employee in the Pakistan Air Force. He is also an instructor at the Shah Khan Snow School in Naltar Valley. Skiers are given training here. Other than his daughters, Sher is training three other local girls that are aged between nine and 14 years. “I gave my best at training my daughters because I always knew they had the guts to learn to ski.”

Asma and Sonia are not only good at the game, they also do a fine job at balancing this passion with education. Asma studies in class six whereas Sonia is a student of class three, at Army Public School. “Sonia aces all subjects during exams,” shared Sher and quickly added, “the elder one isn’t bad either.”

According to Sher, skiing is a “gift from God”. He looks forward to the day when his daughters receive the highest award in Pakistan for their performance.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2014.