Bilal Ahmad Dar once asked his young cousin, Auqib Nabi. Auqib smiled and replied: "One day I will reach a place where they will want to take selfies with me." For a region where conflict, harsh winters and limited infrastructure have long restricted sporting opportunities, Auqib's selection is being seen as a landmark moment. Raised in a small village in Baramulla district, Auqib grew up playing on local grounds with little infrastructure and few opportunities. His father, Ghulam Nabi Dar, a schoolteacher, initially wanted him to concentrate on academics and become a doctor.