Once a poor vegetable vendor in Adilabad, he is today a martial arts champion in the USA. That, in short is the remarkable story of Patan Jameel Khan, who recently returned to Hyderabad after winning two gold medals and a silver in different tournaments in America.
Born to a family of vegetable vendors in Mandamarri in Adilabad, Jameel too took up the trade and sold vegetables on a pushcart till he was 15. It was then that he the interest in karate kicked in.
“I began to learn from my coach M. Rajesham and have never looked back since then,” he says.
He took part in his first national championship in Warangal, and from there climbed up the rungs till he went to an international tournament in Bangkok in 2001. More success came his way and he took part in tournaments in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Malaysia before his first trip to USA in 2006.
“I have been annually taking part in tournaments in the United States and winning medals consistently,” he explains. He takes part in karate, in which he is a First Dan black belt, Kung fu (7 Dan) and Taekwondo (2 Dan).
But, how does he manage the funds to go abroad and compete?
“I am lucky to have sponsors ready to help me whenever I need money for my trips. While one pays for my airfare, another pays for my lodging, food and other miscellaneous expenses,” he explains.
Khan, who now lives in Hyderabad, trains girl students of the Safdaria Girls High School in Mehdipatnam. “I am of the firm view that all girls should get martial arts training to acquire self-confidence and protection against eve-teasing,” he affirms.
The martial arts exponent also wants the State government to recognise his efforts and provide him a job that will give him much-needed financial stability.“In return,” he says, “I will able to give back to the society my knowledge and skills in order to produce good sportspersons from the newly-formed State,” Mr. Khan adds.
