- Malaika Noor, a 19-year-old law student from Pakistan, became the first Pakistani woman to compete in an International Judo Federation (IJF) event at the 2024 Junior World Championships in Dushanbe, gaining valuable experience despite not winning her match.
- Balancing her studies and training, Malaika has achieved top rankings in Pakistan, with a gold in junior and silver in senior categories, and continues to train with the national team under a coach experienced in international competitions.
- Looking ahead, she is determined to train harder for the South Asian Games in February and hopes to inspire other women in Pakistan by showing that it’s possible to excel in sports.
The Junior World Championships consistently draw a diverse group of athletes from around the globe. This is no surprise, given its status as one of the most prestigious events in the judo calendar. Beyond its prestige, the competition offers valuable learning opportunities, especially for athletes from smaller judo nations.
The 2024 Junior World Championships in Dushanbe is no exception, and it made history by welcoming the first Pakistani woman to compete in an International Judo Federation (IJF) event. Nineteen-year-old Malaika Noor, a law student from Peshawar, Pakistan, traveled independently to participate in this monumental event.
“Judo is my passion, and I love competing,” Malaika shared. “I didn’t win my match in Dushanbe, but I gained invaluable experience. There’s a clear difference in the level of training here compared to back home, and I’ve learned a lot from that. Next time, I’ll be better prepared.”
She added, “Typically, it’s the men who represent Pakistan in judo competitions, so being the first woman at an IJF event is a big step. My mother, a former sports teacher and now a school principal, understands the importance of sports and experience, so she and my father gave me their full support to come here. The Pakistan Sports Board and Pakistan Judo Federation also backed my participation.”
This was Malaika’s first time competing internationally. As the top junior female judo athlete in Pakistan, having secured gold at the national championships and silver in the senior category last year, she was determined to test herself on the world stage in Dushanbe.
Balancing her studies at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women’s University Peshawar with daily judo training has been a challenge. However, she remains committed, training with the national team under a coach with significant international experience. “My coach understands how tough international competition is and provides both guidance and motivation. Last year, I had the chance to meet Sabrina Filzmoser during her ‘ForeverEverest – K2’ mission in Peshawar, which was incredibly inspiring for me and many other women in Pakistan.”
Malaika expressed her determination to continue improving, stating, “I need to train harder now and prepare for the South Asian Games in February. There’s a chance it will be held in Pakistan, which would be perfect. If that happens, we’ll have a full Pakistani team, both men and women. Sometimes we train alongside the men, and the two teams are working together more often now. I think it’s making us stronger.”
As she heads back to Pakistan, Malaika returns with a wealth of new insights—knowledge that only judo can provide. Her journey has been groundbreaking, demonstrating to women in Pakistan that it is possible to aim high and achieve great things in sports.
Kudos to Noor, we hope to see other girls compete in such sports and win across all international platforms.
Stay tuned to WOW360.