Former India hockey star Mohammed Riaz hopes to see daughter Shameena on the Olympic stage in 2028
In 1996, Mohammed Riaz walked into the Olympic Village in Atlanta, eyes wide with wonder. As a member of India’s hockey team, he found himself shoulder to shoulder with the world’s greatest athletes, all united by one dream.
It was magical. You see the world’s best walking past you. The pride of wearing the India jersey — it’s unmatched.
He had fought hard to get there, having missed out on the 1992 Olympics as the first standby.
Olympics come once in four years. I didn’t get disappointed. I worked harder. Back then, every player was top quality. You had to give 300–400% just to stay in the team.
Passing the Torch: Shameena’s Squash Dream
Now, more than a quarter century later, Riaz carries that same Olympic fire — not for himself, but for his daughter, Shameena Riaz.
At 21, Shameena is India’s No. 4 squash player and ranked inside the world’s top 160. Her mission? Break into the top 50 to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games as stepping stones along the way.
My dad’s Atlanta stories inspire me. I call him before tournaments to talk strategy. Seeing his medals at home makes me want to earn my own. I want to achieve what he has done — or go even higher.
Discipline, Dedication, and the Riaz Way
Riaz keeps his Asian Games gold medal not in a display cabinet, but as a teaching tool for his children. “I show my daughter and my son these medals,” he says. “I tell them the stories, the hard work, the discipline it took. Playing for India is not just about the T-shirt — it’s about being ready in every way to represent your country.”
For Shameena, those lessons translate into early mornings, hours of training at the Indian Squash Academy, and a packed schedule of international tournaments. She trains under coach Cyrus Poncha, backed by the Squash Racquet Association of India and mentor N. Ramachandran.
Sports teaches you to learn from failures. Those moments make you stronger. My dad has taught me to stay disciplined and never give up.
Another Chapter: The Younger Riaz
The family’s sporting story doesn’t end with Shameena. Fourteen-year-old Mohammed Rehan is also training at the Indian Squash Academy, quietly building his own path toward success.
In the Riaz household, sport isn’t just a passion — it’s a way of life. From a hockey stick in Atlanta to squash racquets in Chennai, the Olympic dream is being passed from one generation to the next.
Riaz’s Belief
“Every father dreams that his child should play the Olympics,” Riaz says. “She’s working with the same dedication I had. The rest, we leave to the Almighty. To enter the Olympic Village and be among the best — it’s a different world altogether. I believe she will get there.”
From the roar of the crowd in Atlanta 1996 to the hope of hearing it again in Los Angeles 2028, this is a story of perseverance, passion, and a family united by a singular goal: the Olympic stage.
