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Nasreen Shaikh Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 12, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth7 November 1998

Age26 Years

BirthplaceShakurpur, Delhi

ProfessionKho Kho Player

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather - Mohammed Ghafoor; Mother - Anwari; Siblings - 6 sisters, 4 brothers

Nasreen Shaikh Biography

Nasreen Shaikh is an Indian kho kho player from Delhi who rose from modest beginnings to captain the national team and win major regional titles. A multi‑t

Early life and background

Nasreen Shaikh was born on 7 November 1998 in Shakurpur, Delhi, and grew up in a large family. She is the daughter of Mohammed Ghafoor, who worked as an utensils vendor, and Anwari, a homemaker. Nasreen is one of eleven siblings, with six sisters and four brothers. She attended Government Girls Senior Secondary School in Kohat Enclave, Pitampura, New Delhi.

From a young age Nasreen showed athletic promise, competing in sprint events such as the 100m and 200m during her school days. Her family’s limited finances influenced her choice of sport; she gravitated toward kho kho because it required no specialized equipment and allowed her to pursue competitive athletics despite economic constraints.

Education

Nasreen pursued higher education at Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, and later attended Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab. Her academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor’s in Physical Education, and a Master’s in Physical Education.

Career

Nasreen took up kho kho early — beginning in the third grade — and within about three years she was competing at the national level. She has been a fixture in domestic competitions, taking part in more than 50 national events through 2023, and has represented India in multiple international tournaments.

At the club and institutional level, Nasreen worked with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). She served as an intern there on a monthly stipend and captained the AAI kho kho team. In 2019 she led the AAI side at the 13th South Asian Games in Nepal, where the team claimed gold in the finals.

International and national highlights

Nasreen was part of the Indian squad that won gold at the 2016 South Asian Games held in Guwahati. She continued to feature in major events, including the 55th Senior Kho Kho National Championship in Osmanabad, Maharashtra, in 2022.

In 2023 she captained India at the 4th Asian Kho Kho Championship in Tamulpur, Assam, leading the team to the title. By that year she had also been named captain for the Indian side at other competitions and had participated in six international events overall up to 2023.

Awards and recognition

In 2024 Nasreen Shaikh was honoured with the Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in sports and games, becoming the second kho kho player to receive that distinction after Sarika Kale Sudhakar. Her life and sporting journey drew wider attention: in 2023 the Kho-Kho Federation of India announced a biopic based on her story, and the film was screened during the opening ceremony of the Ultimate Kho-Kho league in December 2023. That same year her name was included in a class 5 general knowledge textbook issued by the Uttar Pradesh government.

Challenges and support

During the COVID-19 lockdown Nasreen and her family faced financial difficulties and sought basic assistance for food and an athlete’s diet. In response, a federation body and a Delhi-based NGO provided financial aid, and the general secretary of the Kho Kho federation offered an additional small allowance.

Public profile

Nasreen’s profile is built on steady competitive achievement and leadership on the kho kho mat. She has been recognized at institutional, national, and continental levels and is noted for rising through grassroots competition to captain India at major events.

Latest updates

Following her Arjuna Award in 2024, Nasreen continued to be associated with top-level kho kho. In 2025 she was part of the women's kho kho team that won the World Cup, further adding to her list of team honours.
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Recent Work

4th Asian Kho Kho Championship (Captain)

Captained the Indian team to the championship title at Tamulpur, Assam.

2023
Arjuna Award for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games

Recipient of the Arjuna Award, recognising her contributions to kho kho.

2024
Women's Kho Kho World Cup (Team Member)

Member of the Indian women's team that won the World Cup.

2025
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Career Highlights

  1. Started playing kho kho in third grade and reached national competition within three years
  2. Gold medal with India at the 2016 South Asian Games (Guwahati)
  3. Captained AAI kho kho team to gold at the 13th South Asian Games (2019)
  4. Led India to the 4th Asian Kho Kho Championship title (2023)
  5. Awarded the Arjuna Award (2024)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Nasreen Shaikh born?

7 November 1998

What is Nasreen Shaikh known for?

Kho Kho Player

What is Nasreen Shaikh’s marital status?

Unmarried