Nadia Nighat: Kashmir's first female football coach

Nadia Nighat is a role model for all girls as the 21-year-old female footballer has overcome the odds to emerged as the first woman coach from the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Youth in Kashmir lose their courage in the early stages because of the lack of facilities. However, Nadia Nighat is a fighter. She had to break all social taboos in Kashmir to do what she loves.

When Nadia of Srinagar started playing football in 2007, her family turned against her. Later, when the lady coach made it to the national games, her family members got to know about her worth and accepted her decision. During a TV interview, Nadia said that after participating in national games, her parents also came forward to help her.

Regarding adopting a cooperative football coaching career, Nadia said that she wanted to play for the country but the lack of facilities in the valley and fewer opportunities forced her to become a coach.

She said that there are not many girls playing for Jammu and Kashmir. "I could not fulfil the dream of playing for the country as a footballer, but now I am preparing the path for someone else as a coach," Nadia told the ANI.

Nadia was the only girl training along with 40-50 boys in college.

The 21-year-old Nadia said that she was being taunted because of being a girl. People believed that she should pay attention only to studies and household chores, but her love for football kept her going.

Nadia, who recently became part of the practice session with her team in Mumbai, says she is working more on the nuances of this game so that she can give world-class coaching to girls of Jammu and Kashmir.

Nadia is inspired by Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentine legend Lionel Messi. She also named her club 'JJ-7' on the lines of 'CR-7.'

While training the girls in the government women's college in Srinagar, Nadia said that I want every girl to reach their destination. With the help of the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association, Nadia is also doing two other coaching courses so that she can train girls better.