Tayyaba Naz: First Muslim woman athlete to win medal for Assam

Tayyaba Nasreen is an Indian former athlete known for her best performance, timing, and fitness. She broke the national record in discus throw in 1974 and illuminated the name of the country in several international competitions. Tayyaba Nasreen, who hails from Sivasagar district, was born into a middle-class Muslim family. When she was in the eighth grade, her parents passed away. She developed an interest in sports at a young age. Being from a conservative family, she faced many obstacles in participating in sports in her early days. But these obstacles did not deter her from achieving her goals.

Losing her parents at a young age was the biggest shock of her life, but the responsibilities of the house gave Nasreen the courage to face the difficulties of life. In 1971, Nasreen participated in the 9th Inter-State Athletic Championship and started her career in Ahmedabad. In this tournament, Nasreen won the bronze medal and became the first female player from her state of Assam to win a medal in the national championship, creating history in sports.

As a Muslim woman from rural Assam in the 1970s, when very few girls stepped into competitive athletics, Nasreen showed extraordinary courage. At a time when Tayyaba Nasreen was thinking of doing something in sports and illuminating the name of the country, there were people around her who used to say such things about girls who went out to participate in outdoor activities. But Tayyaba Nasreen tried to ignore all this because she knew that these people would not necessarily help her in times of crisis. On the other hand, the rest of the family members encouraged Nasreen and made her stronger.

When Nasreen used to practice, she did not have many facilities to practice, but she was always mentally prepared for everything. Nasreen was confident that her dedication could take her to success. In the early days, her father, also a shot putter and javelin thrower, trained young Tayyaba. Her father saw her interest in sports and took Nasreen to the sports field every day. Tayyaba Nasreen practiced discus throw in a very strange way. Being from a middle-class family, Nasreen was also well aware of farming.

She started learning the basics of discus throw by helping her cousin in the paddy field during practice. They would throw discs, and Nasreen would collect them and throw them back. Gradually, Nasreen strengthened her arms and started testing them on the sports field. Although Nasreen never got proper training, she had all the abilities that her contemporaries from other countries had. After some time, her talents were noticed by Ranjit Gogoi, who was the sports organizer. He sponsored this little girl from Sivasagar to represent the district in the All Assam Inter-District Athletics Meet.

Soon, Nasreen represented India in the Asian Games, Japan, the United States, and South Africa in the World Experienced Athletics Meeting. This was a great encouragement for Nasreen. It was the result of her tireless struggle and many sacrifices. The confidence she gained from this success helped her achieve bigger goals. Nasreen also worked in the railways for a salary of 250 rupees in the 1970s to support her family. In the 1982 Asian Games, Nasreen missed out on winning a medal.

Nasreen broke the national record in discus throw in 1971 and represented the country in several international competitions around the world. In 1974, she broke a 12-year-old national record in discus throw in Jaipur. She threw 29.32 meters in the tournament. She was the first medal winner from Assam. She also participated in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi but missed out on winning a medal. She performed her best in the Asian Games trials. She trained for two years in the national camp before the Asian Games.

Nasreen became the first female athlete from Assam to win a medal on the national platform. The progressive success of athlete Tayyaba Nasreen has had a profound impact on the athletes of Assam and North-East India. Her national record in discus throw in 1974 and the honor of being the first Assamese woman to win a medal at the national level have been an inspiration for sprinter Hima Das and boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who achieved success in the Olympics almost 48 years later.

Assamese players often present her story as an example of perseverance, which proves that women from backward communities can also perform at the highest level in sports despite systemic difficulties. Through leadership roles, Nasreen has played an active role in promoting gender equality in athletics. As the vice president of the Assam Athletics Association, she has advocated for the involvement of foreign coaches and the establishment of regular athletics academies to nurture talent, especially among women.

Her involvement in these organizational efforts has aimed to create a comprehensive environment by eliminating regional disparities in the sports infrastructure. Additionally, she has participated in various events and social initiatives in Assam to encourage women's participation in sports and has used her platform to guide and motivate emerging players. In recognition of Nasreen's impressive role, she has been awarded prominent awards as a beacon of women's sports. In 2016, she was given the Yamini Hazarika Woman of Substance Award in recognition of her services to athletics and social development.

Earlier, in 2010, she was awarded the Woman of Substance Award by local organizations for breaking barriers and inspiring young people. These awards validate her legacy as a catalyst for gender equality in sports in North-East India. Nasreen has also planned to establish a sports academy and a hostel where she can provide training, especially for girls from poor families. Tayyaba Nasreen has also been the vice president and general secretary of the Assam Athletics Association. Tayyaba Nasreen is the first female athlete from Assam whose glorious performance on the national stage 48 years ago has been an inspiration for people like sprinter Hima Das, swimmer Mathu Boro, table tennis champion Monalisa Baruah Mehta, boxer Shiva Thapa, and archer Jayanta Taluk.