Arsala Khan/New Delhi

Nabila Khan, a BSc Biochemistry student at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is also a roller skater of national repute. Her journey began at the age of five when she watched her brother skating. Only when she was 14, she realised that she wanted to make it big in the sports. Today, her speed and agility at the rink leave everyone impressed. She told Awaz-The Voice, that her goal is to win a global competition.

Her speed and smart maneouvers at the rink have given confidence to her coach and family that she will soon fulfill her dream.

Nabila Khan

For Nabila, skating is not merely a sport or a pastime. She considers it her greatest strength. The sport gives her the motivation to keep moving forward in life every day. When she was five, she first put on a pair of skates and began skating. Watching her elder brother skate sparked her interest in learning the sport herself.

Gradually, skating became her hobby and then turned into a passion. The small medals and trophies she won in the beginning boosted her confidence considerably. She began to believe that she could go a long way in the sport. Nabila says that her family has stood firmly by her throughout her journey.

Nabila's mother has been associated with social work for a long time. Since 2014, she has been running an NGO called Ashiana Welfare Society. According to Nabila, her mother understood her passion for sports and always encouraged her.

Nabila Khan with her father

Her father worked as an engineer in Kuwait and is now retired and lives at home. Her elder brother has also been a source of inspiration for her. He is pursuing a degree in Mass Communication at Aligarh Muslim University. Nabila grew up in an environment that encouraged both education and the pursuit of dreams, giving her the confidence to move forward fearlessly.

For a girl, making a mark in the world of sports is not always easy. Nabila too faced several obstacles along the way. However, her parents never stopped supporting her. The family continued to have faith in her sporting abilities and gave her the freedom to choose the path she wanted to follow.

Nabila considers a couplet shared by her father to be her biggest source of motivation. The lines by renowned poet Ahmad Faraz are particularly close to her heart:

"Jo mere zabt ka sheeraaza muntashir kar de, Mere sitam ko bhi ab aisa koi sitamgar de." 

Nabila Khan

The couplet teaches her to remain calm even during the most difficult situations and to stay focused on her work.

Nabila got a breakthrough when she participated in a 10-day special training camp in Mohali. Her speed and consistency caught the attention of the selectors there.

She subsequently earned a place in the Uttar Pradesh team. Nabila put up an impressive performance at the National Roller Derby. So far, she has won five medals at the National Roller Derby, including three gold medals.

The Federation Cup Roller Skating Derby Championship held in Bikaner, Rajasthan, was the most memorable competition of Nabila's career. Playing for the Uttar Pradesh team, she displayed remarkable coordination on the rink. In the pool stage, Uttar Pradesh defeated the strong Tamil Nadu team 44-11. The team then faced hosts Rajasthan in the final.

Nabila Khan

In the final, Uttar Pradesh defeated Rajasthan 26-12 to clinch the gold medal. Nabila's speed, precise timing and strategy played a crucial role in the historic victory.

In roller derby, simply skating fast is not enough. Teamwork, precise timing and accurate strategy are equally important. Nabila says that during matches, she places the greatest emphasis on maintaining coordination with her teammates. The same strategy helped the Uttar Pradesh team win gold in Bikaner.

Nabila's life is not all play; she is pursuing a BSc degree in Biochemistry at AMU. Balancing skating practice, tournaments, and college studies is not easy. Nabila believes that with proper time management, it is possible to handle both academics and sports successfully.

Nabila Khan with a coach

Not only that, but Nabila has also cleared the NEET examination twice, but she did not join a medical college.

As a member of Generation Z, Nabila is also active on social media. However, for her, social media is not merely a source of entertainment. She sees her generation as fearless young people who want to create their own identity.

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Nabila believes that instead of being afraid of criticism, young people should turn it into their strength. If someone questions your work, she says, instead of treating it as pressure, use it as motivation. At the same time, she advises young people not to do anything simply because they are under someone else's pressure.