Srinagar, Jul 17: South Kashmir's Anantnag district dominated this year's NEET-UG results in Jammu and Kashmir, with Hadiya Nisar emerging as the J&K topper, Zaidan Wani finishing second, and eight candidates from the district figuring among the first 20 rank holders. Hadiya, a student from Bon-Dialgam village, secured All India Rank (AIR) 99 with a 99.9931 percentile in her first attempt. Zaidan Wani of Telwani village, Shangus, secured AIR 124 after scoring a 99.71 percentile.
Both were among the 138 candidates nationwide who scored 690 marks or above in the medical entrance examination. The two students overcame the disruption caused by the cancellation of the earlier NEET-UG examination following the paper leak and regained their momentum in the re-test held weeks later. For Hadiya, the setback became an opportunity. "I had secured 705 marks in the cancelled examination. That doesn't necessarily mean my rank would have been better. The re-test proved to be a blessing in disguise," she told Greater Kashmir. Hadiya said the cancellation briefly affected her preparation.
"It broke my momentum and I was disheartened, but I didn't lose patience. I revised from where I had left and continued preparing," she said. Hadiya, who did her initial schooling from Radiant Public School, Anantnag, and 10+2 from Government Higher Secondary, credited her parents, siblings, grandparents, teachers and extended family for their support. She also acknowledged the guidance of her private coaching teachers. "They supported me throughout without putting any expectations on me. I couldn't have done it alone," Hadiya said. She said there was no single formula for success. "Everyone's circumstances are different. Find what works for you. Practice regularly and keep your concepts clear," Hadiya said. She said she reduced mobile phone use during preparation but used online resources when required.
Awaiting counselling, Hadiya expressed hope to secure admission to a top medical college. She urged students facing financial or personal challenges not to lose hope. "Many students come from difficult backgrounds. Don't lose heart because of your circumstances. Keep working hard. Even if medicine doesn't work out, there are many other professions where you can succeed," Hadiya said. Her parents, Nisar Ahmad and Zubia, said they never forced her to choose medicine. "She initially wanted to study engineering before choosing medicine. We supported her decision," they said. For Zaidan, who completed his initial schooling from St Peter's School, Anantnag, and later at Government Higher Secondary School, Shangus, medicine was always a personal choice. "I never chose medicine because of societal pressure. It has always been my passion. This is how I want to serve society," he said. Zaidan said consistency mattered more than long study hours. "I mostly studied for three to four hours a day and sometimes up to six. The key is consistency," he said. Zaidan said self-study remained the most important part of his preparation, though he also relied on private coaching for guidance.
"Teachers guide you, but self-study is more important. Quality matters more than quantity," he said.\A cricket enthusiast, Zaidan continued playing occasionally to manage stress.
"I took short breaks whenever I felt stressed and returned with a fresh mind," he said. Zaidan credited his parents, teachers and coaching faculty for their support. "I was fortunate to succeed. Allah helped me throughout this journey," he said. Zaidan advised candidates who could not qualify not to lose hope.
"If you don't qualify NEET, don't get disheartened. You can always try again. Even if you don't become a doctor, there are many other careers where you can build a successful future," he said. His father, Bilal Ahmad Wani, a teacher, said discipline and focus shaped his son's success. "I always believed he had the potential. His teachers also deserve credit for guiding him," he said.
Another high achiever from Anantnag, Falak Asghar of Bon-Dialgam, secured the 20th rank in J&K with 622 marks. Her All India Rank is under 5000. Falak completed her initial schooling at SAPS Wanihama-Dialgam and later at Government Higher Secondary. She said the cancellation of the earlier examination briefly affected her preparation. "It took me a day or two to recover before I resumed my studies," Falak said. Coming from a modest background, she credited her family's sacrifices. "My father, a daily wager, worked tirelessly to educate me and my siblings. My mother stood by me throughout. Seeing my parents happy is the biggest reward for me," Falak said.
She said she relied mainly on self-study, with coaching supplementing her preparation. Another Bon-Dialgam village student, Saira Javaid, also featured among J&K's high performers, scoring 587 marks without joining any coaching institute. A student of Iqbal Memorial Institute and later Government Higher Secondary School, Saira said she prepared through self-study and online resources. "I relied on self-study and the internet for guidance," she said. Her father, a private school teacher, supported her throughout her preparation.
