Hajra Khan

Hajra Khan is a Pakistani footballer who serves as a striker or midfielder. She previously held the position of captain for the Pakistan women's national football team.

Early life and education

Khan was born on 29 December 1993, in Karachi, Pakistan. She proved to be a remarkable athlete from an early age. Although her ultimate dream involved becoming a professional athlete, she initially gained recognition through track and field. In 2004, she represented Pakistan by running a half marathon at the Salwan Games in India.

Her football journey began when she was 14 years old. After she impressed during tryouts for the provincial football team of Sindh, she joined the Diya Women's Football Club. Her debut proved extraordinary because she scored 9 goals in only 3 games during the National Women Championship. This performance allowed her to become the top scorer of the tournament.

Career

Khan began her club career with Diya W.F.C., where she won the Misha Dawood Trophy during the 2010 National Women Football Championship. In January 2014, she left Diya to join Balochistan United. She secured the Pakistani women's football championship with Balochistan United in 2014 by scoring the only goal against her former club in the final.

She later became the first Pakistani woman footballer to sign an international contract. In 2014, she joined Sun Hotels & Resorts Football Club to compete in the Maldives National Women's league. She officially joined the Maldivian club Sun Hotels and Resorts FC on 24 May 2015. During the summer of 2015, she spent one month in Germany to attend pre-season trials with 4 clubs. Although she received a transfer offer from MSV Duisburg, visa issues prevented her from accepting it.

Khan was selected for the Pakistan national team in 2009 for the 2010 South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Following this event, the Pakistan Football Federation selected her for a FIFA women's football coaching course in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In December 2010, she participated in the inaugural SAFF Women's Championship and helped Pakistan reach the semi-final. She led the national team as captain starting in 2014.

After years of inactivity caused by the FIFA suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation, she returned to international play at the 2022 Women SAFF Championship. While she retained her status as a player, she transferred the captaincy to Maria Khan. She currently plays for Pakistan Army and remains the only Pakistani player to score 100 goals in her club career.

Beyond football, Khan has competed in other sports at the international level. She helped the Pakistan National Netball Team win a bronze medal at the 2011 South Asian Beach Games in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. Additionally, she acted as a key player for the Pakistan National Basketball Team during the 2016 South Asian Games in India.

Awards and recognition

Khan won the National Women Football Championship with Balochistan United in 2014.