Shahida Raza was one of the victims of the ill-fate migrant boat that crashed against rocks on the southern Italian coast early on Sunday.
At least 63 migrants including 30 Pakistanis are confirmed to have died. The toll also includes 12 children including a baby.
One of the victims was a hockey player for the Pakistan women’s team, who was reportedly trying to reach Europe in search of a better future.
The 27-year-old belonged to the Hazara community in Quetta, who are now mourning the loss.
In the sporting circle, she was known as Chintoo. Shahida was an important member of the Pakistan Women’s Hockey Team and also played departmental hockey for Pakistan Railways. She was also passionate about football, as she represented Balochistan United women’s team.
Moreover, she was the mother of an infant girl, but her daughter was not with her at the time of the accident.
She was going through a difficult phase in her life as a single mother after getting divorced, Geo News citing their sources reported.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Vice President Shehla Raza and others have expressed sorrow over her death.
“President of Pakistan Hockey Federation Brigadier Khalid Sajjad Khokhar (retd), Secretary General Haider Hussain, Chairperson Women’s Hockey Wing Syeda Shehla Raza, GM Women’s Wing Tanzeela Amir Cheema has expressed condolences to the family of former international women’s hockey player Shahida Raza (Chintu), who died due to an accident and prayed for her forgiveness,” the PFF said in a press release on Tuesday.
