Unacknowledged Queens of the ice burnt by govt’s lukewarm applause
The skiing champion sisters from Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Amina and Ifrah Wali, didn’t expect that their feat would go unnoticed in the highest official circles as no one, including the prime minister has bothered to give them any attention.
The Wali sisters from Punial Valley in G-B won gold and silver medals for Pakistan in January’s first South Asian Winter Games held in India. They beat contestants from Sri Lanka, Nepal and India in the giant slalom. This is the first time that any Pakistani female athlete has won a medal in the South Asian Games for skiing.
“Winning for Pakistan felt great, especially having won in India, but I am a little disappointed at the muted response in Pakistan,” Amina Wali told The Express Tribune on Saturday.
The sisters were full of praise for the G-B government, but sounded very disheartened with the federal government, “We attempted to meet the prime minister thrice, but to no avail. It has been seven months and we have given up any hope of acknowledgement from the federal government,” said Amina. At the same time, she thanked the G-B government for their positive attitude. “We are thankful to Sadia Danish (advisor to the G-B chief minister) for her encouraging words and awards,” she said.
Still teenagers, the sisters have won more than half a dozen national competitions in G-B’s Naltar valley and Malam Jabbah, Swat. Born in the Gushpur family, the former royal family of Punial in Ghizer District, the Wali sisters excelled at skiing, having spent most of their childhood practicing in the snowy valley.
Besides sports, the sisters have performed exceptionally in academics as well: 18-year-old Amina got 809 marks in her FSc exam, while Ifrah has passed matriculation with a distinction. Their father, Amjad Wali, proudly stated that both girls, despite their participation in games, kept their grades and remained outstanding students.
In the long run, Ifrah hopes to join the army as a software engineer, while Amina aspires to be a doctor.
Most promisingly, in spite of the centre’s disregard for their achievements, the sisters vowed to hold the national flag high in the future as well.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2011.
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Well done. You have proved wonderful and many can not achieve such feats which make you extra ordinary. Keep doing your best and disregard lack of appreciation by the ignorant.
Amina and Ifrah Wali Congrts.
You should not expect any thing from this Govt. They are not sincere with us. They have time for Sania like pplz who dam care about us. but not for us.
dear amina and ifra congr8s ...we are proud ov u... well done
Dear Ex-Calibur; Who so ever you are; May God show you the right path.
Either you are patriot Pakistani with very small frame of mind & pessimist approach. Or you are an "Excellent Calibre" spy who want to create disturbance & division in innocent Balti people's thinking.
Your every sentence shows your animosity. You talked about only those who don't care but you don't want to acknowledge those who loved it & cared for it for centuries & generations. I belong to the family who served in making KKH. Talk about your own self what is your contributions. Have you ever raised hands in Prayers for the betterment of Pakistan? All Pakistani media covers & respect Gilgit, Nultar, Nagar, Hunza, Pashin, Sakardu, Pakistan. But the problem is; you have seen foreign media only.
For your kind information your beloved Greg Mortenson is a con-man & fraud. He is belongs to US Army. His preference is CIA not CAI. People like him gather money in the name of charity get good name & then sabotage innocents. From where these innocent Afghans got such arms & ammo? Such persons are appointed to fund & brain wash them. Quran describes them as "Munafeqoon" Hypocrites. In your last sentence you have mentioned your only media source..!
Plz be a "Peace Maker" not the "Piece Maker" like USA..! It is a sheer mistake to misguide & kill someone by creating anger among the loved ones. May Lord be our Guide in this world & the world after. aqeelhafeez@hotmail.com
Heartening story amidst the usual tragi-comedy that is Pakistan. But how many Pakistanis really care about G-B? Most don't even consider it a part of the country. This is not just a failure of the federal govt/center, it's a general perception problem. We can't even relate to or identify with Balochis and their subjugation, let alone Balistanis. No one in the mainstream Pakistani media ever covers the plights of the G-B area - so why would we celebrate the feats of these two talented kids? The sad part is that the region was out of sight and out of mind until Greg Mortenson, an outsider, publicised it in his '3 Cups of Tea.' I don't think Pakistan deserves to claim G-B as its territory as long as it considers it's people 3rd class citizens. This fact is milked by the Indian media which is the only source I always get any news about the area.
Federal Govt. is too busy under the leadership of PPPP and its Allies and has no time to think about PAKISTAN and the Pround Pakistanis.
Thumbs up!!
all GB ppl r proud of u 2 brave girls
its very unfortunate that those who striving on their own to do good for the Nation always left on the dark side, i extend my Deepest Congratulations to the Wali sisters! May you do much greater! and cherish the glory and work for the Nation without any return!!!! since no body to look in to adventure sports, what we know is (CRICKET) !!! the influential politicians and bureaucratic do all their good to please their like minded people or relatives or may be some one who can bribe their palms! here me and my sister have been trying to promote women mountaineering in pakistan, in less then one year, Samina Baig climbed three 6000m peaks, the recent one was for Gender Equality and the mountain she climbed with Polish girl was unnamed and un climbed, they named the Peak "Mount Equality" but no body bothered to ask and make the news even! please visit the website and can read more about the program! http://pakyouthoutreach.com/ thank you
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! You are shinning lights in our dark and gloomy nation!
Bravo ladies.......You have done us proud!!
Great performance. I as a Pakistani take GREAT pride in your success and please keep up the great effort regardless of Gov't acknowledgement.... Do it for yourself, do it for Pakistan's name in the International society. May Allah give you much much more success in life... Ameen
hello amna and arfa wali you both sisters are proud of our gilgit there fore we love you sham
Dear Amina and Ifrah
Accept heartiest congratulations from my and my family side. Pakistan name is shining because of you people. May Allah give you more successes in your life. May Allah bless you ameeeen,,.
Take care tariqmuhammadd@gmail.com
Dear Amina & Ifrah, AOA. Congratulations on your success. May Allah grant you more success & happiness in this world & the world hereafter.
Be thankful to all mighty Allah for the "Blessings in disguise...". You are very lucky that you were unable to meet the President Asif Zardari. Plz never have such wish. Otherwise you will regret for the whole of your life. You might get agony for the days to live.
I am very happy on your success. Plz don't take me wrong. I myself is an un-noticed athlete & inventor. May Allah show right path to all of us. aqeelhafeez@hotmail.com.
Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
well done you are pride of Pakistan whether acknowledged or not.Keep going.
Bless them both!
Great work girls. Your achievements are truly inspirational for the rest of us. Keep it up! :)
The political leaders are busy saving their Govt. while innocent people in Karachi and Blauchistan are being killed and the TALENTED sportsmen / women are ignored.Only those are appreciated who have contacts or backing of a political party. I believe CM GB is responsible for not recommending these champions to President / PM.
Keep the Green flag high...One day Nation will acknowledge your achievements... Welldone Indeed..
This article would further degrade these girls. PM probably do not have time to read it, telecast this news on your electronic media, get the attention of whole Pakistan. Surely these girls will shine further..!!