Kashmir valley has produced many athletes who have returned victorious from national and international platforms. But the valley still craves to have more athletes to make it to the world’s biggest athletic stage – Olympics.
So far we only have Gul Mustafa Dev and Arif Khan, as the only two Kashmiris who have represented India in Olympics. Also we have Bilquis Mir, canoeist from Kashmir, first woman from India to represent the country as a jury member at Paris Olympics.
The three athletes have done a commendable job in their respective sport and crowned Kashmir with a Olympics title. But some precious gems are needed in the crown to attain prominence in Olympic history of Kashmir.
Exploring the possible Kashmiri names who can make it to Olympics in the future.
1) Adil Teli (Cycling)
Adil Teli is the cyclist from Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir who has made the Guinness World Record, twice. It was in 2019, at non-stop cycling event when Teli became confident about his capability of taking on bigger challenges.
Soon after covering a distance of 40km in 26 hours from Srinagar to Leh, Adil Teli started practicing for Guinness World Record. In March 2021, Teli completed the distance from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in eight days, 1 hour and 39 minutes on cycle. This recorded Teli’s name as fastest cyclist to cover the distance in Guinness Book of World Records.
The 26-year-old cyclist has shown remarkable steadfastness and unquenchable thirst for bigger risks and challenges. He astonished Kashmir, by chronicling himself in the Guinness Book of World Records for the second time. The cyclist is known to have covered fastest cycle journey of the Manali-Leh highway.
In September 2022, Adil Teli pedaled from Leh to Manali without a small rest to his eyes in 29 hours 18 minutes and 21 seconds. Even after making the record twice, Teli has not stopped.
He works continuously on his health and fitness and keeps practicing. He has recently shared his photos in which cyclist can be seen practicing in Abu Dhabi, Dubai. It won’t be unwise to speculate that the determined cyclist must be aspiring to compete in Olympics in the near future.
2) Rasikh Salam Dar (Cricket)
The first Kashmiri who shone in the Indian Premier League is Rasikh Salam Dar. In the domestic cricket, 24-year old Dar, plays for Jammu and Kashmir and in IPL he is acquired by Delhi Capitals as the fast bowler.
Back in 2019, he was the youngest debutant to find a palce at Mumbai Indians. The player has also been part of Kolkata Knight Riders. In 2024, Rasikh Salam Dar was bought by Delhi Capitals.
Cricket is set to make its mark on a global stage. International Olympic Committee (IOC) has finalized Cricket as an additional sport to be included at 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angles.
Cricket without a doubt is an unannounced common religion of diversified India. Cricketers from India will have a chance to present their caliber and claim on cricket in the Olympics. From Kashmir, we have Rasikh Salaam Dar whom we can expect to make his debut from Kashmir at the Games 2028 in the cricket. Alongside Dar, we have cricketers like Iqra Rasool and Jasia Akhtar whom we can expect of having aspirations for Olympics.
3) Zubair Ahmed Lone (Snowboarder)
He is the athlete who shares the same playground as that of Gul Dev and Arif Khan. Zubair Ahmed Lone belongs to Tangmarg area of Baramulla district, Kashmir. On the snow clad slopes of Gulmarg, Lone self taught himself the sport since childhood.
The 25 year old athlete, discovered the thrill of this game when he competed in the first junior national championship in 2014. The snowboarder, then in 2016 won gold medals at slalom and giant slalom at the nationals. Internationally, Zubair Ahmed Lone has competed in four tournaments. In his last race, he acquired position 14.
He is one of the only four snowboarders from India, who is active on International Ski Federation circuit. The skier aims to represent India at Olympics but lacks financial assistance. He nonetheless has initiated crowd funding for making it to Winter Games in 2026.
He is walking the same path as that of only two Olympians from Kashmir, Gul Mustafa Dev and Arif Khan. Having high hopes of making it to Olympics isn’t wrong of Lone. He maybe the third name in the list in the near future.
4) Afreen Hyder (Kyorugi)
Afreen Hyder is the first female Taekwondo player from Kashmir. The athlete won her first national medal in 2010. She has bagged the silver medal twice at the national level.
At 39th National Senior Taekwondo Championship held at Guwahati, Assam in India, she became the first athlete to secure a silver medal in Kyorugi in 2022. She claimed another silver after losing the final match of the women’s under-67 kg category in the 2023 Goa National Games. Only a week ago, she has been recruited as a Tax Assistant in the Income Tax Department under the Meritorious Sportsperson category.
The 24 year old athlete is the All India Rank 1 holder and has also proven herself as among the Top 100 female Taekwondo athletes of the world. Afreen Hyder has won medals at international G1 and G2 tournaments but her ultimate goal is to win a medal for India at Olympics.
5) Insha Bashir (Wheelchair Basketball)
Insha Bashir is the first wheelchair bound basketball player from Kashmir. It was in 2009 when she was a grade 12 student, Insha Bashir lost her ability to walk or even make a movement from waist down.
Fixated to wheelchair, Insha Bashir found light in life through basketball. She has come a long way in the sport. In 2019, she represented India at Sports Visitors Exchange Program in the USA. This has been the most memorable moment of pride for Bashir.
She also captained Jammu and Kashmir team in Mohali in 2019. In 2022, she clinched a silver medal at an international game in Wheelchair International Basketball tournament held in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking to a news channel, Insha Bashir talked about her future goals, “I want to become the first Kashmiri to win an Olympic medal. Playing for India at the Paralympics is my big dream.”
With unwavering spirit and determined attitude, we can expect this 30 year old Kashmiri young woman’s debut in Olympics in the near future.
6) Shariya Manzoor (Boxing)
Shariya Manzoor is a resident of Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir. She is the female boxer from Kashmir who has won at tough levels of the game.
The Kashmiri boxer has garnered six medals at the national level including a medal a the Federation Cup and the one at Youth All India National Championship 2021. She bagged a gold medal at youth games All India National Championship 2021.
Manzoor has also won a silver medal at the state Taekwondo championships and participated in the belt wrestling championship. On 13 September 2023, the young girl was conferred with “Kashmir Young Leadership Award” by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha during the Kashmir Leadership Summit here at SKICC Srinagar.
The 22 year old harbors a dream of representing India at Olympics. If the boxer keeps proving her prowess on greater platforms, we may see her at Olympics in the future.
7) Sadia Tariq (Wushu)
Sadia Tariq is the fighter from Kashmir’s Srinagar. In 2022, when Sadia Tariq was 15-year old, she fought in the international wushu competition. At Moscow Wushu Star Championship, Sadia Tariq won the gold medal for the nation. The young athlete was congratulated by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on X,
“Congratulations to Sadia Tariq on winning the Gold medal at the Moscow Wushu Stars Championship. Her success will inspire many budding athletes. Wishing her the very best for her future endeavours.”
Earlier the young girl had secured two gold medals and one bronze at the national level. Sadia while speaking with a news channel said, “I don’t want to be a doctor or an engineer, my dream is to represent the country at International events and win gold for J&K and country in the Olympics.”
Sadia Tariq(17) is stepping forward in her career with Olympics as the final destination.
Tabinda Mir is a writer from Kashmir. She is an English Honours graduate and her interests primarily dwell in poetry and sports writing. She likes to cover Cricket as an avid fan. Apart from sports, her other publications include articles, poems and a letter to summer in the book titled, “Under The Summer Skies”.
Also, her leisure time activities include reading novels, poetry, non literary works, philosophies and writing poetry, short stories, articles on diverse themes.
