Nasreen Shaikh (born 7 November 1998, Shakurpur, Delhi) is an Indian kho-kho star, former captain of the India women’s national kho-kho team, and only the second player from the sport to receive the Arjuna Award. Emerging from a humble background to become one of the most celebrated faces of kho-kho’s revival, Nasreen’s career mirrors both the game’s rise in India and the changing social landscape for women in sport.
Early life and education
Born into a large Muslim family in northwest Delhi, Nasreen is one of eleven children of Mohammed Ghafoor, a street vendor originally from Araria, Bihar, and his wife Anwari, a homemaker. Her father has long supported the family by selling utensils in patri bazaars across Delhi, often working from dawn to night. Limited family income meant expensive sports were never an option, which drew her to kho-kho and athletics—a field requiring little equipment but immense determination.
Nasreen attended Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Kohat Enclave, Pitampura, where she began playing kho-kho in Class 3. By her early teens, she was competing at national-level tournaments and leading Delhi’s state team. She later completed a Bachelor of Arts from Daulat Ram College under Delhi University, followed by a B.P.Ed., and is pursuing her Master’s in Physical Education from Lovely Professional University, Punjab.
Rise in kho-kho
Initially known as a sprinter in inter-school 100m and 200m races, Nasreen soon gravitated fully to kho-kho, drawn by its speed and teamwork. Encouraged by her elder sister—a fellow player whose own dreams were halted by financial hardship—Nasreen often says she is “living her sister’s dream.” Her talent quickly earned her selection for Delhi’s squad, national training camps, and ultimately the Indian team while still in her teens.
Nasreen’s first international success came with India’s gold medal at the South Asian Games. She rose to captain the team at the 13th South Asian Games in Kathmandu, leading them to yet another gold. Between 2019 and 2023, she served as captain of the India women’s kho-kho team, guiding the side to consistent international victories.
One of her major triumphs as captain came at the 4th Asian Kho Kho Championship in Tamulpur, Assam, in 2023, where her team remained unbeaten and claimed the gold. By this time, Nasreen had already participated in over 50 national and six international tournaments, becoming one of the game’s most decorated players.
Her crowning moment arrived in January 2025, when India won the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in New Delhi. Although no longer captain, Nasreen—one of the senior-most players—played a key role in the team’s campaign, culminating in a commanding 78–40 victory over Nepal in the final. Soon after, she retired from international kho-kho, ending her career on the sport’s biggest global stage.
Struggles and resilience
Parallel to her sporting career, Nasreen worked with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) under a sports contract, earning about ₹26,000 a month while leading their kho-kho team. The job provided her family with essential financial stability. Yet hardship persisted—especially during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, when her father’s street-vending income ceased. Facing acute financial strain, Nasreen sought help for rations and a proper athletic diet. The Kho-Kho Federation of India and a Delhi-based NGO stepped in with support, allowing her to continue training through the crisis.
Awards and recognition
Nasreen’s consistent excellence earned her the Arjuna Award in 2023, making her only the second kho-kho player ever to receive this honour. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award at Rashtrapati Bhavan in January 2024, marking a defining moment both for her and the sport.
Her story has since entered classrooms—a biography of Nasreen features in a Class 5 general knowledge textbook in Uttar Pradesh’s government schools—and her journey was adapted into a short biopic screened during the opening ceremony of the Ultimate Kho Kho league. In 2025, she was honoured with the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year “Changemaker” award, recognising her broader influence on women’s empowerment in sports.
Social impact and legacy
Nasreen’s path from a conservative neighbourhood in Delhi to international glory has profound social significance. As a Muslim woman from a working-class background, she faced criticism and suspicion from sections of her community for travelling to tournaments and wearing sports attire. Undeterred, she continued her training, often leaving home before dawn, and gradually won over even her harshest critics. Her achievements—particularly her Arjuna Award—transformed perceptions within her community, inspiring families to support their daughters in sport.
Beyond her medals, Nasreen has become an articulate advocate for women’s participation in athletics, repeatedly urging parents to support their daughters’ dreams despite economic or cultural barriers. Her speeches and interviews often highlight how opportunity, guidance, and perseverance can enable girls from the most modest backgrounds to excel nationally and internationally.
From the narrow lanes of Shakurpur to international arenas, Nasreen Shaikh’s journey captures the power of persistence and passion. As an Arjuna awardee, World Cup champion, and national icon, she stands as a defining figure in India’s kho-kho renaissance and a beacon of empowerment for the next generation of sportswomen.