K-P’s young sailors defy odds to bring glory home

Hijab Ajmal demands government’s support, training facilities locally

PESHAWAR:

Young sailor Hijab Ajmal from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has emerged as the province’s only gold medalist in sailing after delivering a historic performance at the 35th National Games held in Karachi in December 2025.

The 15-member sailing contingent from K-P competed in nine categories against strong teams from Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, Army, Punjab and Sindh, eventually winning a total of eight medals despite the absence of proper training facilities in the province.

Hijab Ajmal clinched the gold medal in the Laser Radial Sail category, creating history for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa sailing. Her younger sister, Amna, also displayed exceptional talent by securing a silver medal along with her three-member team. The success story did not end there, as Maryam Abassi won silver in the individual category while her sister Tehreem Abassi bagged bronze. Their father, Sajjad Abassi, also earned a bronze medal, highlighting the family’s strong contribution to the sport.

Coach Rahim Dad Khan, who led the K-P team, said the achievements were extraordinary considering the hardships faced by the players. Speaking to The Express Tribune, he explained that he established the province’s first sailing team back in 2019 after retiring from the Pakistan Navy.

“I belong to Nowshera district and wanted to introduce sailing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, but the biggest issue is the lack of facilities,” he said.

According to the coach, although the province has several dams suitable for sailing, boating activities remain restricted there, forcing athletes to travel to Karachi every year for training camps.

“There are excellent locations such as Khanpur Dam and Tarbela Dam that can be used for sailing practice, especially Tarbela which is vast and ideal for the sport,” he said. “But since boating is banned, we have no choice except to train in Karachi during summer vacations.”
Rahim Dad Khan added that sailing is an expensive sport, with boats costing far beyond the reach of ordinary athletes.

“Pakistan Navy provides boats during training and competitions. Even Army and Air Force teams do not own boats themselves. Purchasing sailing boats independently is impossible for most families,” he explained.

Despite the financial and logistical difficulties, the coach expressed pride in his team’s performance.

“Our players competed against highly trained teams that have access to facilities throughout the year, yet they still managed to win medals for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,” he remarked.

Hijab’s father, Ajmal, a retired Pakistan Air Force official from Mansehra, recalled how his children first entered the world of sailing during his posting in Karachi in 2021.

“I took my daughters and son to Karachi Boat Club for a month-long training camp. It was the first time they had ever boarded a sailing boat,” he said.

He added that after meeting coach Rahim Dad Khan, the siblings quickly progressed and won silver medals in the 2022 National Championship. Their performances later caught the attention of Asian Sailing Federation Vice President AR Arshad, who arranged free membership for them at the Air Force Club.

“So far, my daughters have won 12 gold, 16 silver and three bronze medals,” Ajmal said proudly.

Hijab, meanwhile, said she has successfully balanced sports and academics. She topped her examinations in grades 9 and 10 and later secured a scholarship in first year college studies.

The young athlete has also represented Pakistan internationally in Abu Dhabi alongside four other sailors.

However, she stressed that financial constraints continue to remain the biggest challenge.

“We have to travel to Karachi every year for practice and there is no sponsorship or government support,” she said. “The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government should at least help players with accommodation and training expenses during camps in Karachi.”