Denied Dreams: The Judo Stars of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikNow , Digital Creator In the rugged hills of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where young athletes train relentlessly on worn mats under the watchful eyes of dedicated coaches, four promising judo players had reason to celebrate. Abdul Rahman, Huzaifa, Faisal, and Awais had shone brightly in the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam Games and the Under-22 Games, representing their province with skill and determination. Their throws were precise, their grips unbreakable, and their performances earned them medals—and, more importantly, the promise of scholarships from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Directorate. These scholarships were meant to be a lifeline. For boys from modest backgrounds, juggling rigorous training with limited resources, the financial support would cover equipment, travel to tournaments, and perhaps even some educational expenses. "We play for the national flag, despite having so little," Abdul Rahman often said to his teammates during late-night practic...