21 year old Karishma Ali is the first-ever girl from Chitral to play football on the national as well as international level. The Pakistani footballer secured a spot at the prestigious Forbes ’30 Under 30′ list yesterday.Karishma encourages Chitrali girls toward football
As President of the Chitral Women’s’ Sports Club, Karishma has trained around 60 girls in the football sport. She tells social media that her aim is to make football a way of life in her region and to encourage more women and girls to play the game and make a difference in their lives. She has represented her country at the Jubilee Games in Dubai and was also a part of the first women’s team from Pakistan to take part in the AFL International Cup.
It is for this very reason that she has made it to the coveted ‘30 under 30’ list and is sharing the spot with the Japanese tennis star, Naomi Osaka, who is considered to be at the top of her game at the very moment.Ali tweeted about the achievement and remembered her father who had supported her throughout.In an interview with CNN, Karishma Ali revealed that when she started training women in the field of football, she had received numerous death threats from men. Karishma added that these threats did not deter her from her resolve and she subsequently continues to play the game and train young girls in the same.Footballer Karishma Ali recognised in US
A detailed feature report by CNN has covered Karishma Ali for her selfless philanthropy work in her hometown, Chitral.“When the COVID-19 pandemic handicapped the lives of many, Ali would spend hours driving on bumpy, mountainous roads with her father and uncle delivering much-needed supplies to the local hospital and underprivileged villagers. Items bought with money she raised, mainly through social media” claimed the CNN report.