Baramulla, September 2, 2025 – When the 9th National Wheelchair Basketball Championship tipped off in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, on September 1, the court buzzed with determination and athletic spirit. Among the competitors was Ishrat Akhtar, the 26-year-old wheelchair basketball star from the outskirts of Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, who rolled onto the court not under the J&K banner but wearing the colours of Delhi. This poignant moment served as a powerful reminder of the challenges she has overcome and the unyielding resilience that defines her extraordinary journey from a life-altering accident to becoming Kashmir’s first international wheelchair basketball player.
Ishrat Akhtar, hailing from the village of Bangdara in Baramulla district, has long been an inspiration for differently-abled athletes across India. Her story began tragically on August 24, 2016, when she fell from the second floor of her home, severely damaging her spinal cord and leaving her paralyzed below the waist. The then-17-year-old spent months bedridden, battling depression and the harsh realities of her new life. “After the accident, I felt like a burden on my family. Relatives and neighbors made me doubt my worth, but my parents’ unwavering support pulled me through,” Ishrat shared in past interviews, echoing the emotional hurdles she faced.
A turning point came in 2017 when her family connected her with the Voluntary Medicare Society in Srinagar. There, under the guidance of doctors like Dr. Mir Mohammad Maqbool, she received physiotherapy, wheelchair training, and counseling that reignited her spirit. It was during this rehabilitation that Ishrat discovered wheelchair basketball. “I never imagined I could play a sport like this. Training meant traveling daily from Baramulla to Srinagar on a bike with my brother-in-law, carrying two wheelchairs, but the lack of local infrastructure couldn’t stop me,” she recounted. In 2018, she attended a selection camp and made her national debut representing Delhi at the championships in Tamil Nadu, as J&K lacked a dedicated team at the time.Her breakthrough came swiftly. By 2019, Ishrat had helped form a J&K team and represented India at the Asia-Oceania Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Pattaya, Thailand, competing against powerhouses like Iran, China, and Malaysia.
She became the first woman from Jammu and Kashmir—and indeed from Kashmir—to achieve this feat internationally. “Even during the communication blackout in the Valley that year, the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police helped me reach the national camp in Chennai,” she noted, highlighting the crucial role of institutional support. Ishrat has since participated in multiple nationals, including events in Mohali, and even dabbled in wheelchair table tennis and boys’ races, where she clinched first place as the sole female competitor.Now 26, Ishrat’s participation in the Gwalior championship underscores her ongoing commitment.
Representing Delhi again due to team dynamics and selection processes, she aims to inspire a new generation. “J&K now has a team, but opportunities like this allow me to compete at the highest level. My goal is to qualify for the Paris 2024 Paralympics and show that physical challenges are no barrier to dreams,” she said ahead of the event. The championship, organized by the Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI), features teams from across the country, with matches focusing on speed, strategy, and skill adapted for wheelchairs—no double dribble rules, but strict limits on pushes while holding the ball.Ishrat’s accolades extend beyond the court. She is a renowned motivational speaker, delivering talks in Kashmir and other states to uplift differently-abled individuals. In 2021, she received the Kashmir Young Leadership Award from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the Kashmir Young Achievers Award. The Women Steel Award 2022 from the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee further recognized her contributions. “I’ve accepted my condition as a blessing. It taught me independence and courage,” Ishrat often says, emphasizing her role in empowering girls and women in sports.As the Gwalior event unfolds from September 1 to 5, Ishrat’s presence not only highlights her personal triumph but also spotlights the need for better sports infrastructure in regions like Kashmir. With forecasts of continued growth in para-sports under initiatives like the Khelo India Para Games, athletes like her are paving the way for more inclusive opportunities. Supporters can follow live updates via the WBFI portal or local sports channels, cheering for Ishrat as she dribbles past obstacles once more.
