Pakistani squash player Bahadar loses in Asian Games round of 64 — Dawn

Pakistani squash player Sana Bahadar ended her debut appearance at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, after losing to Iran’s Najmeh Bushehrizadeh in the round of 64. For the 20-year-old athlete, participation in the Aichi-Nagoya Games itself was an important achievement, Dawn reports.

Squash as a means of self-expression

Bahadar has a hearing impairment and has not spoken since birth; her two younger brothers are the same. Outside the court, she communicates using sign language and lip-reading, and she began playing squash at the age of 10.

At that time, the athlete was introduced to former Pakistani squash star Qamar Zaman, who became her mentor. The player’s father, Sher Bahadar, who owns a printing business in Peshawar, called his daughter an example of what can be achieved through talent and dedication.

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Training expenses

According to Sher Bahadar, this year he sold two printing machines to pay for his daughter’s overseas trips. Because he accompanies the athlete on her travels, his business has declined by 60%. He said he does not regret it and is proud of Sana’s achievements.

A Karachi-based foundation provides the athlete with 4 million Pakistani rupees, or $14,452, annually, but, according to her father’s assessment, these funds are insufficient for training trips to China and Malaysia. He also said that state assistance is limited and that private sponsors could not be found.

Last month, Bahadar won the Bendigo Open in Australia, after which she rose to 179th place in the world rankings. Next year, she aims to break into the top 100, while her family hopes to find funding for training in China with her former coach.