Inside the glass walls of a squash court, 20-year-old Sana Bahadar lets her racquet tell her story.
Deaf and non-verbal since birth, Sana communicates outside the court through sign language and lip reading. Squash has given her a powerful way to express herself.
Her Asian Games debut ended with a round-of-32 defeat against Iran’s Najmeh Boushehrizadeh. But simply reaching the Aichi-Nagoya Games marked a major achievement.
From Special School to National Champion
Sana started playing squash at the age of 10. She was later introduced to Pakistani squash legend Qamar Zaman, who supported her early development.
Her father, Sher Bahadar, said he wanted Sana to have opportunities beyond traditional vocational training offered at special schools.
The decision transformed her life.
Sana eventually became Pakistan’s national squash champion. She is now ranked 179th in the world after winning the Bendigo Open in Australia last month.
Her next target is the world’s top 100.
Family Makes Major Sacrifices
Sana’s progress has come with significant financial challenges.
Her father sold two printing machines this year to help finance her international travel. He said his printing business has declined by around 60 percent because of the demands of accompanying Sana overseas.
Despite the financial pressure, he said he has no regrets.
A Karachi-based foundation provides around Rs4 million annually, but her family says additional funding is needed for overseas training.
Sana has trained in countries including China and Malaysia. Her father hopes she can reunite with her former coach in China.
Squash Gives Sana a New Identity
Financial support remains a major challenge for Sana’s international career.
Her father believes limited sponsorship opportunities have made it harder to secure the funding needed for overseas competitions and training.
Despite these obstacles, he says squash has completely changed Sana’s confidence and outlook.
Her family says she once struggled with communication and self-confidence. Today, she competes internationally and has ambitions of reaching the world’s top players.
Sana’s journey continues with one clear goal: breaking into the global top 100 next year.
