Danish Ali/Srinagar

In the heart of Srinagar's old city, in the narrow alleys of Safa Kadal on the banks of the majestic Jhelum River, a young woman dared to dream differently and script a success story.

Irtiqa Ayoub, 28, stands out as an extraordinary Kashmiri woman, who treads a path that only a few have ventured before - the rugged, male-dominated world of rugby.

Today, she stands tall as the youngest Rugby Development Officer (RDO) in Jammu and Kashmir, a coach, a mentor, and a role model to hundreds of girls and boys across the Valley.  Her journey, like the sport she loves, has been anything but easy.

Irtiqa Ayoub on the field

Irtiqa’s tryst with rugby began when she was 16, a student at Kothi Bagh Higher Secondary School. Until then, she had never even seen a rugby ball. “I was hesitant at first,” she recalls with a laugh. “I didn’t understand the game, the rules, or even what the ball looked like. But my coach encouraged me to try,” she says.

One week into practice her hesitation had turned into passion. The intensity, the physicality, the spirit of the game—it all clicked.

Irtiqa, whose defiant streak was visible when she played football with boys in her neighbourhood, found a new calling in rugby.

However, following her passion meant going up against societal expectations, and, most painfully, her own family’s disapproval. “In my struggle to convince them, I lost two opportunities to play in international tournaments,” she told Awaz-The Voice. “Back then, the idea of a girl traveling alone for sports was unthinkable in my family.”

Irtiqa Ayoub leading the women during training session

Irtiqa held her ground. Her persistence ultimately paid off. “Today, when my father sees me training hundreds of students, his eyes beam with pride,” she shares.

About two years ago, she transitioned from playing the sport to coaching, taking rugby to schools, colleges, and even private tuition centers across Kashmir.

As a Rugby Development Officer, she has not only introduced the game to new players but has built a community—a sisterhood—of young girls determined to rewrite their stories through sports.

Every day, in rain or snow, she heads to the Gindun Stadium in Rajbagh, where she trains young athletes from 3 PM to 6 PM. “The ground has become my second home,” she says.

Irtiqa Ayoub

Her achievements are many—seven golds at the state level, seven at the district level, and silver medals in Rugby 7’s in 2016 and 2017.

More than her achievement, what makes Irtiqa extraordinary is her drive to change the lives of others.

She set up a club where she trains a group of girls with dreams as big as hers—to play for India. Some of them already have.

Coming from a conservative locality where young girls stepping out in sportswear is still frowned upon, Irtiqa is focused on her mission. “When I ride my scooty with my kit, people pass comments. But I respond with my work,” she says.

Irtiqa Ayoub during a coaching session

Her routine is rigorous—morning runs, gym workouts, coaching sessions, and hours spent strategizing her next steps on social media, where she actively shares her journey to inspire others. “I believe in the power of social media. It has helped people see the other side of my story,” she says.

Irtiqa believes that support, especially from families, is critical for women in sports. “The girls I coach are talented, but their growth depends on how much freedom they are allowed at home,” she explains.

“Parents must realize that sport is not a threat to culture or dignity; it’s tools of empowerment.”

She is candid about the challenges. “Government support is limited. We still lack infrastructure and resources. Earlier, we didn’t even have a proper ground to practice.”

That changed with the establishment of the Rugby Home Polo in Srinagar, thanks to the efforts of the J&K Sports Council and Rugby Association. “Now, we train for months before big tournaments,” she says.

Irtiqa Ayoub

Despite better facilities, society’s attitude is her biggest hurdle. She has a message for parents: “If your daughter has the will and talent, support her. With your trust, she can achieve more than you can imagine.”

Irtiqa is working toward earning a place on the Indian national rugby team. She trains relentlessly, balancing her academic life (she is pursuing her graduation in Arts from Government College for Women) with her sporting commitments.

“Success and failure are part of the game. I never give up. That word doesn’t exist in my dictionary,” she says with the kind of grit that makes champions.

Irtiqa Ayoub is more than a coach. She is a movement—a symbol of hope, determination, and breaking the chains of convention. In a region often defined by conflict, she offers a different narrative—one of courage, resilience, and dreams forged in sweat.

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Through rugby, she is training girls not just to excel on the field, but also to navigate through the difficulties and challenges of life.