Hajra Khan (footballer)

Hajra Khan (Urdu: ہاجرہ خان‎) (born 29 December 1993) is a Pakistani footballer who is the captain of the Pakistan women's national football team.[1] She plays as a striker or midfielder. She became part of Pakistan national team in 2009 which she led as a captain from 2014.

Hajra Khan
Personal information
Full name Hajra Khan
Date of birth (1993-12-29) 29 December 1993
Place of birth Karachi, Pakistan
Position(s) Midfielder/Forward
Club information
Current team
 Balochistan United
Number 14
Youth career
2008 Diya WFC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2014 Diya WFC 21 (41)
2014– Balochistan United 13 (58)
2014–2015 → Sun Hotels and Resorts (loan) 5 (3)
National team‡
2010– Pakistan 16 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:03, 6 February 2016 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:03, 6 February 2016 (UTC)

Early and personal life

Hajra Khan was born on December 29, 1993 in Karachi, Pakistan.[2] From an early age, Khan's dream was to become a professional athlete but not a footballer. She was discovered by Diya WFC coach Sadia Sheikh, when she was looking for provincial team. Khan debuted aged 14 and scored nine goals in three games for DWFC, which won her the Top Scorer of the tournament award.

Club career

In January 2014 decided to leave Diya and join Balochistan United.[3] Khan won the Pakistani women's football championship with Balochistan United in 2014, scoring the only goal against former club Diya in the final.[4] She then accepted an offer to play for Maldivian club Sun Hotels and Resorts FC in the FAM Women's Football Championship.[5]

In summer 2015, Khan spent a month in Germany and attended pre-season trials with four clubs. She was unable to accept a transfer offer from MSV Duisburg due to visa issues.[6] She became the only Pakistani player to score 100 goals in her club career.

Hajra currently plays for Balochistan United Women's Football Club, Pakistan and Sun Hotels and Resorts Maldives Club. She joined Sun Hotels and Resorts Maldives club on 24 May 2015.

International career

In 2009, Khan was selected in the Pakistan national team for the 2010 South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh.[7] After Khan's participation at this event, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) selected her for a FIFA women's football coaching course in Colombo, Sri Lanka.[8] In December 2010, she played in the inaugural SAFF Women's Championship, helping Pakistan reach the semi-final.

21 year old Hajra Khan made history for Pakistani national women football team when she invited to top three German football clubs SGS Essen, FSV Gütersloh 2009 and VfL Sindelfingen to play, she spent three weeks there and played preseason trials. Being a Pakistani international footballer that opportunity was an important milestone in her career, she said.

She was the first Pakistani women footballer to sign an international contract in 2014 with Sun Hotels & Resorts Football Club[9] to play in the Maldives National Women's league.

International Statistics
Year Team Appearance Goals
2010–present Pakistan women's national football team 16 5

As an Athlete

Netball

At the 2011 South Asian Beach Games in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, the talented young athlete even helped the Pakistan National Netball Team bring home a bronze medal.[10]

Honours

References
  1. "Hajra Khan – national Hero of women football | FootballPakistan.com (FPDC)". www.footballpakistan.com. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  2. "Hajra's footballing journey and her four aspirations - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  3. Naveed, Malik Riaz Hai (17 January 2014). "FPDC Exclusive: Hajra Khan moving from Diya to BU". Football Pakistan. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  4. Naveed, About Malik Riaz Hai (13 February 2014). "Winner of All Sindh Noor Women Football Championship crowned: Balochistan United Women Football Club". Football Pakistan. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  5. Raheel, Natasha (14 January 2015). "Hajra's footballing journey and her four aspirations". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  6. Raheel, Natasha (24 August 2015). "Back from Germany: Hajra content with her stint in Europe". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  7. "Hajra links up with Maldives' top club". dawn.com. Dawn. June 3, 2014. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  8. "Pride of Pakistan : Hajra Khan". DailyTimes. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  9. "Germany calling: Hajra to create history with trip to Europe - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  10. "Hajra Khan handed Trials in German Bundesliga | DESIblitz". DESIblitz. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
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