BEYOND THE SIDELINES: HOW A GRASSROOTS REVOLUTION IS CARVING AN OLYMPIC PATHWAY FOR PAKISTAN’S DAUGHTERS
Sidra Arif
KARACHI — Something seismic is shifting within the
landscape of Pakistani sports, and the epicenter of this transformation was
vividly on display under the historic arches of the Governor House in Karachi.
What began as a
grassroots effort to get young girls to play volleyball has formally evolved
into a nationally backed, multi-disciplinary sports ecosystem. Empower Sports
Academy, a premier non-profit, has struck a landmark partnership with the
federal government’s Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) to launch the 3rd
National Empower Girls Tournament 2026.
This is no longer just a
local competition; it is a declaration of intent. With the machinery of the
state now backing the raw ambition of young female athletes, the tournament is
expanding into four major disciplines: Volleyball, Badminton, Taekwondo, and an
extensive Athletics lineup featuring sprints and field events like Javelin and
Discus throws.
A Pipeline to the
World Stage
For years, women’s sports
in Pakistan have suffered from a lack of structural continuity. Talent existed,
but infrastructure did not. This partnership aims to fundamentally alter that
reality by scaling operations to touch the lives of 10,000 girls across the
country this year alone.
The emotional core of the
initiative, however, rests on the shoulders of Alisha Junaid. A young
national-level volleyball player turned founder, Alisha’s journey is the very
blueprint of what the academy aims to replicate at scale.
"When I founded Empower Sports Academy, I had one vision: to give girls in Pakistan the same right to compete in the Olympics, to grow, and to dream that every young athlete deserves," Alisha shared with a packed room of media houses, educators, and corporate leaders. "This tournament is not just a competition—it is a pipeline to the world stage."
Building the
Infrastructure of Tomorrow
The initiative’s
long-term sustainability is anchored by two pillars: high-profile international
collaborations and a permanent brick-and-mortar footprint.
Malika Junaid, Co-Founder
of the Academy, approached the initiative through both a strategic and maternal
lens, announcing a major development project in the federal capital.
"As a mother and
Co-Founder, I have always believed that no dream is too big for our
daughters," she stated. "Our upcoming flagship facility in Islamabad
will give them the world-class environment they deserve to train and excel. We
are not just running a tournament—we are building a generation of
champions."
This vision is heavily
reinforced by a stellar network of global and domestic partners. The academy
has managed to bridge the gap between local corporate backing and elite
international sports institutions, securing collaborations with global
powerhouses like Stanford Women’s Volleyball (USA), VakifBank Sports Club
(Turkey), and corporate giants like Nike and Jazz. Crucially, these alliances
open doors for Pakistani girls to receive international training, athletic
scholarships, and academic opportunities abroad.
The Federal Commitment
Representing the state's
renewed focus, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth
Programme, underscored the government’s alignment with the academy's mission.
"The Prime
Minister's Youth Programme exists to unlock the potential of Pakistan's young
people—and today, that means unlocking the potential of our young women,"
Khan said. He acknowledged that the academy has been doing extraordinary work
by discovering elite talent in overlooked regions, building the foundational
bedrock of a brighter sporting future.
"This partnership
reflects the government's commitment to ensuring that Pakistan's daughters have
every opportunity to rise—not just nationally, but on the Olympic stage,"
Khan added, pointing to the target of 10,000 girls as just the baseline for
future expansions in mentorship and competitive training.
Quick Facts: The 2026
Tournament Blueprint
|
Category |
Details &
Disciplines |
|
Core Sports |
Volleyball, Badminton,
Taekwondo, Athletics |
|
Athletics Track |
100m, 200m, 400m
Sprints |
|
Athletics Field |
Javelin Throw, Discus
Throw |
|
Strategic Goal |
To identify elite
talent and build a direct qualification pathway for the Olympic Games. |
As the launch event
concluded with an engaging Q&A session and lunch, the atmosphere in the
room felt distinctly different from typical bureaucratic announcements. There
was a palpable sense of momentum. For the young women training on courts and
tracks across Pakistan, the message from Karachi was clear: their ambitions
have been heard, and the country is finally ready to back them.
