Saturday, November  16, 2002
M A I N   F E A T U R E


ACHIEVER
Success on the slopes
R.C. Ganjoo

Hafeeza HussanSKIING is a passion and the first love of Hafeeza Hussan. And her favourite playing field—Gulmarg. "Till I am alive, I will never stop skiing. I have been on these slopes for the last 25 years," says Hafeeza, who is the first Kashmiri woman to represent India in first Winter Asian Games held in Saparo, Japan, in 1986. Hafeeza began to negotiate these slopes when she was barely 16. "February 3, 1978, was a turning point my life when I first travelled down these slopes," recalls Hafeeza. Though she was actively involved in sports like volleyball, badminton, kho-kho and hockey during her school days, it was skiing that gripped her. Interestingly, she had never heard about skiing before she came to Gulmarg. "A day before I was put on the slope, lessons were given to me. The next day, I found myself gliding down as if I was made for it," remembers Hafeeza. She did not look back from then on and later became a professional. She has done basic, intermediate and advance snow skiing courses and now trains students in this sport.

 


However, taking to skiing for a Muslim woman from a lower middle class family was not easy. She had to face opposition from her relatives. But her supportive parents encouraged her. When she was selected for the First Winter Asian Games in 1986 in Japan, social pressure was mounted against her and her family members. "Unflinchingly, my family members faced social barrier. A lot of support came from my coach K K Sharma." She thanks them all for it. Of her experience, she says "I have secured this position because of my dedication and determination. Women have to take the initiative and not depend on others."

Hafeeza with Olympian Gul Mustafa in Japan during the Ist Winter Asian Games
Hafeeza with Olympian Gul Mustafa in Japan during the Ist Winter Asian Games

She was the only woman competitor among men when she won the gold medal in Slalom in 1981 in Gulmarg. So far she has bagged eight gold and two silver medals. She was declared the best skier in Slalom and Giant Slalom in Manali (HP) in 1989. In January 1998, she had the honour to be the torch bearer of first National Winter Games held at Gulmarg.

Hafeeza was disappointed with the attitude of the Government of India when Muzaffar and Shabir, under- 19 skiers, were not allowed to participate in Winter Asian Games in Australia in 1998. They were accompanied by Olympian Gul Mustafa and were detained in Delhi for 15 days. Travel papers were denied to them by the government.

She holds the Centre responsible for not giving adequate attention to sportsmen and women hailing from J&K. She also blames the Centre for not giving importance to country’s premier skiing resort at Gulmarg. "In Gulmarg, the slopes are natural and are not so in Manali. We have not been provided modern facilities and equipment. Since 1977, we have been using old equipment and J&K Tourism has been lending us equipment free of cost for the courses that we conduct."

The longest ski run (2,213 metres) inGulmarg is provided by the Gondola Cable Car. Three courses for 21 days from January to March are conducted by the J&K Youth and Sports Department with the help of J&K Tourism. They are free of cost. About 50 participants are accommodated in each of these course. According to Hafeeza, around 200 students are being trained every year. In1990, a class X student, Insha Nazir, participated in the Asian Games held in Japan. Since then, there has been no representation from J&K, says Hafeeza.