Inshah Bashir: First Woman Wheelchair Basketball Athlete

Even though many Indian athletes face physical obstacles, they continue to set records in a variety of sports. Among them is Inshah Bashir, a native of the Beerwah neighbourhood in the Budgam district in Kashmir and the first female wheelchair basketball player. Since he was a young child, Inshah has loved basketball. She was left wheelchair-bound at the age of fifteen following an accident that resulted in a spinal cord damage. She went down from her own home’s balcony. She was a 12th grader at the time. But despite being in a wheelchair, this young girl is determined to overcome all the obstacles in her path and become a basketball player. 

What motivated Inshah to take up the sport? 

When she visited the Shafqat Rehabilitation Center in Srinagar, she saw other wheelchair-bound basketball players who were similar to her, and she hasn’t looked back since. Inshah earned a spot in the 2017 National Championship in Hyderabad. She has also taken part in the 2019 Sports Visitors Program in the US. Inshah wants to outshine other teams and bring honor to her country. Her tale continues to serve as motivation for anybody who wants to follow their passion despite obstacles.

Journey of the inspiring lady:

This 15-year-old native of Kashmir didn’t let her accident deter her from pursuing her aspirations, even if it rendered her permanently wheelchair-bound. Since then, Inshah Bashir has never turned back since she persisted and battled to overcome her restrictions. Being the first woman from Jammu and Kashmir to play wheelchair basketball professionally, she has realized her aim of being a professional player. Having represented India in international competitions, she currently plays both domestically and mentors young women to overcome their obstacles and emulate her.

Nevertheless, she did not have an easy voyage. She had to fight through years of physical and mental anguish, but with the help of her family, friends, and mentors, she was able to overcome the trauma the accident had left behind.

Destiny intervened when she had physiotherapy at the Shafqat Rehabilitation Center in Srinagar and saw basketball players with impairments. She met the men’s wheelchair basketball team while participating in a 6-month physiotherapy program. She was apprehensive to join them at first, but after she started playing, she developed a strong love for the sport and worked hard to overcome any obstacles that came her way.

Achievements of Insha Bashir:

• The National Wheelchair Basketball Championship was held in Hyderabad in 2017 and she took part.
• 2018 saw her participate in state competitions in New Delhi with the Delhi Team.
• In Tamil Nadu, she participated in a national competition in 2018.
• In March 2019, she travelled to the USA as a representative of India for the Sports Visitors Exchange Program.
• In Mohali in 2019, she took part and served as the team’s captain, representing J&K.