Meet Sumiya North Kashmir's young female powerlifting champion who turned critics into admirers

Having been widely discouraged for choosing powerlifting as a sport in a society like Kashmir, Sumiya Khan who won two gold medals in National Powerlifting and Deadlift Championship held at Delhi this year.

- ASHIQ MIR

With that, Sumiya has proved her critics wrong and made the people of Kashmir proud especially her parents.

"Sumiya Khan Age 19, is breaking all stereotypes in Kashmir, I was widely criticised by all sections of society, but my family members especially my mother stood shoulder to shoulder with me, It was not an easy journey for Sumiya Supported by none in her vision, she said that nobody supported her initially because of the deeply entrenched notions against women's mobility in what is traditionally seen as a space for hyper masculine expressions."

"However, it didn't affect Sumiya's dream and she continued to stay rooted to her mission.