Beyond Mobility

CLASP had the opportunity to interview para table tennis champion Zainab Barkat on how sport has changed her life, her advice for young girls with disabilities, and what she’s aiming for next.

Zainab works as a sports consultant for CLASP Service Partner Paraplegic Center Peshawar in Pakistan. She has competed in multiple local, national and regional events and has 9 gold medals under her belt.

You have been playing table tennis for a long time and have won numerous championships. How did you first get involved with table tennis?

I have been playing sports since I was 12 years old, and I started playing table tennis at 16 years old. I found that table tennis is a game that I can play as a woman and with controlled body movement, allowing me to use my upper limbs effectively.

I realized that sports opened an opportunity to build my future. I also knew that there are few women with disabilities in sports. I have encouraged and introduced many sports to other women with disabilities, including wheelchair racing, cricket, archery, boccia, badminton and live Ludo (a life-size version of a game based on the Indian game Pachisi).

What wheelchair do you use when you compete?

I use the Motivation Multisport when I am competing. Sometimes, I use the Expression for my practice. My favorite wheelchair for everyday activities is the Motivation Active Folding and the Expression. The Expression is light in weight, more compact and stylish as compared to other options.

Zainab received both her Expression and her Motivation Active Folding through CLASP Service Partner Paraplegic Center Peshawar.

What are some of the challenges for women with disabilities in Pakistan?

The challenges faced by women with disabilities in Pakistan are accessibility, appropriate wheelchairs, transportation and gender sensitive social barriers. Families are reluctant to allow women with disabilities to live an independent life.

Learn about strategies to address gender barriers faced by women and girls with disabilities around the world here.

Do you have any advice for young girls with disabilities in Pakistan?

Young girls with disabilities should set goals for themselves and focus on taking the first step toward building trust among their families that they can take care of their physical and social life. Girls with disabilities should start by learning the activities of daily living, like addressing their own personal needs, taking care of their education or learning trade skills. The very first thing is to take care of their physical, psychological and social needs so that they can think of other activities outside of their home.

Women with disabilities who are already role models should be promoting other women with disabilities and work for the welfare of women with disabilities.