From Player to Pioneer: How Asia Is Breaking Barriers for Girls in Pakistan
On a lively court near Islamabad, Pakistan, young girls leap and dive, their hands poised to strike the volleyball with focused determination. At the center of it all is Asia, coaching their technique and cheering on each effort. The girls learn more than just how to serve and spike: they learn resilience during tough practices, teamwork during matches, and self-belief each time they master a new skill. As Assistant Director of Sports at the Mardan Board, Asia oversees programs across three districts and mentors dozens of young female athletes, several of whom have gone on to represent Pakistan in international competitions.
Asia’s rise to this position was anything but easy. When she was first selected for the role, skepticism surrounded her. Friends and family questioned whether a woman could succeed in a job traditionally reserved for men, especially in a department where most staff were male. Their doubts were loud, and their expectations were low.
Asia proved them wrong. Drawing on the confidence and leadership skills she first developed as a Right To Play Coach beginning in 2010, she embraced the challenge and transformed it into an opportunity. Today, she’s not only thriving in her role but breaking barriers for the next generation of girls, showing them that with the right support, they can lead, compete, and win.
Discovering Her Calling
Asia’s journey began in 2010 when her friend Rabiya invited her to observe a session she was leading for girls at a local school. During the session, they played a game called Secret Director, that was designed to build attention and concentration. One girl was secretly chosen as the “director,” and her role was to lead small movements that everyone else in the circle quickly copied. Meanwhile, a “guesser” stood in the centre, trying to figure out who the director was. The fun and laughter drew the children in, but the game also taught them observation, decision-making, and focus in a playful way.
Watching this unfold sparked something in Asia. She was struck by how engaged the children were and how much joy they found in the activity. She decided to join Right To Play as a volunteer Coach. Until then, Asia had been a talented athlete but unsure of her potential beyond the playing field. Coaching changed that perspective. Through her experience as a Coach, Asia learned that sport was not only about winning or losing, it taught empathy, leadership, and resilience. She began to understand how she could use sport as a tool to positively influence young girls’ lives at a critical moment in their development.
“Before becoming a Right To Play Coach, all I knew about sports was that you either win or lose.” – Asia
Over the next three years, Asia worked directly with children, parents, and teachers, leading sport and play activities in schools, visiting families to gain their support for girls to participate in sports, and forming youth leader groups. She discovered how to motivate young people, understand their interests, and inspire them to participate in sports despite the barriers they faced.
Asia’s own athletic career is filled with milestones. In 2012, she won a silver medal at the National Games. When she was selected as a goalkeeper for Pakistan’s Girls Hockey Team, a lack of gear stole away her ability to participate. However, Asia received support from Right To Play which enabled her to get her sports kits and pursue her dream. Her achievements continued in cricket, where she earned the “Woman of the Match” title in the PCB Women’s Cricket Tournament, scoring 86 runs not out and taking five wickets.
Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated Field
Today, Asia is the Assistant Director of Sports for the city of Mardan. When she first learned that she had been hired for this job, some of her friends and family were concerned about her ability to succeed in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Asia didn’t listen. “I’ve worked here for ten years now and have been supported by everyone, from the Chairman and Secretary to my colleagues and staff. No one has ever discouraged me,” she says.
Asia uses her position to advocate for girls’ participation in sports. Many of the female athletes she coaches once faced opposition from their families. Convincing parents to allow their daughters to play was often the hardest task. Asia remembers personally visiting homes, speaking to families who initially refused to let their girls join. Patiently, she explained how sports could build confidence, open opportunities, and make them proud. “I went to their homes, spoke with their parents, and convinced them that their daughters could make them proud,” she recalls.
“Some of these girls who won the medals weren’t even allowed by their families to play sports.” – Asia
Under Asia’s guidance, the girls she coaches have won 47 medals in national and international competitions. Some have become the first in their families to earn an income through sports, supporting their households and serving as role models for younger generations.
Under Asia’s guidance, her athletes have won many medals, including 13 gold. But her impact goes beyond the scoreboard. Her players are becoming role models in their communities, proving that with determination and opportunity, anything is possible. “I didn’t learn this coaching skill as a player. I learned it at Right To Play, and I’m still using those skills to guide and support girls in sports,” Asia says.
Asia understands that excellence is not just about having talent; it’s about being surrounded by people who help you embrace that talent for the benefit of others. Her dream? To create a future where every girl in Pakistan has the chance to play, lead, and succeed.
“These experiences showed me what I was capable of, and that support makes all the difference.” – Asia
