KARACHI: Empower Sports Academy, Pakistan’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to empowering girls through sports, announced the 3rd National Empower Girls Tournament 2026 at the Governor House on Saturday, May 30 . The tournament is being organized in partnership with the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP).
The event will feature competitions in four disciplines: Volleyball, Badminton, Taekwondo, and Athletics. The athletics category will include the 100m, 200m, and 400m races, as well as the Javelin Throw and Discus Throw events.
The event was well-attended by leading media houses, corporate partners, sports professionals and federations, educators, and stakeholders from across the country.
Journalist, social activist and PR practitioner Shanaz Ramzi, opened the event and said “Now in its third year, the National Empower Girls Tournament has grown into one of Pakistan’s most significant platforms for young female athletes, drawing competitors from across the country and giving them the opportunity to compete at a national level.
This year’s expanded partnership with the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme marks a major milestone for the Academy, reflecting the government’s commitment to investing in girls’ sport as a national priority.”
She then ntroduced Alisha Junaid, the young national-level volleyball player and founder of Empower Sports Academy. Alisha shared her journey so far and highlighted details of the upcoming third Empower National Girls Tournament. Speaking on the occasion, she said, “When I founded Empower Sports Academy, I had one vision: to give girls in Pakistan the same right to compete in the Olympics, to grow, and to dream that every young athlete deserves. This tournament is not just a competition — it is a pipeline to the world stage. And with the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme standing with us, we are sending a powerful message to every girl in Pakistan: your ambition matters, and your country believes in you.”
Malika Junaid, Co-Founder, Empower Sports Academy said, “As a mother and Co-Founder of this Academy, I have always believed that no dream is too big for our daughters. These tournaments are how we find Pakistan’s future Olympians. Our upcoming flagship facility in Islamabad will give them the world-class environment they deserve to train and excel. We are not just running a tournament — we are building a generation of champions.”
Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan expressed his delight at the progress made so far by Empower Sports Academy, and said, “The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme exists to unlock the potential of Pakistan’s young people — and today, that means unlocking the potential of our young women. Empower Sports Academy is doing extraordinary work: finding talent where others have not looked, and building the foundations of a sporting future for the girls of this nation. This partnership reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that Pakistan’s daughters have every opportunity to rise — not just nationally, but on the Olympic stage. We are proud to stand alongside Empower Sports Academy in making that vision a reality. This initiative reflects our government’s unwavering commitment to uplifting young women through sport. By reaching out to 10,000 girls this year and expanding even further in the years to come, we are broadening access to training, mentorship, and competitive opportunities. These young athletes will become the champions who proudly represent Pakistan on global stages.”
The programme ended with an interesting question-and-answer session, followed by lunch.
ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT
The 3rd National Empower Girls Tournament 2026 will bring together young female athletes to compete in four sports disciplines:
• Volleyball
• Badminton
• Taekwondo
• Athletics: 100m, 200m, 400m, Javelin Throw, and Discus
The tournament forms a central pillar of Empower Sports Academy’s long-term strategy to identify and develop elite female athletes and create a direct pathway for Pakistani girls to compete at the Olympic Games.
About Empower Sports Academy
Empower Sports Academy is a non-profit organisation founded by Alisha Junaid, dedicated to empowering girls in Pakistan through sport. The Academy organises national tournaments, provides coaching and development programmes, and works to build a direct pathway for female athletes to compete at the Olympic Games. With a mission rooted in inclusion, excellence, and national pride, Empower Sports Academy is changing the story of what girls in Pakistan can achieve — one athlete at a time.
Empower Sports Academy proudly acknowledged its extensive network of partners who are playing a pivotal role in building Pakistan’s future female sports ecosystem. Official Partners & Collaborators include Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Stanford Women’s Volleyball (USA), VakifBank Sports Club (Turkey), PSB, POA, Taekwondo, Volleyball and Athletics Federations, Jazz, Jazz Cash, NIKE, Bookme, CROWN Group, Naya Nazimabad Gymkhana, INTERWOOD, Guidetti Academy, SportWrench, HUM TV, Hyder, M. Design Architects, ELEVATE, Kids University, & Rasheed Ahmad & Sons— including international universities and elite volleyball institutions in the USA — which are opening doors for Pakistani girls to receive global-level training, scholarships, and academic opportunities abroad.
