Eighteen-year-old karateka from Hyderabad Syeda Falak has achieved what no woman karateka from city before could -- earn the right to represent India in the World Championship to be held in Spain later this year and also in the next year’s Asian Games in Korea.
Falak took to karate at the age of 12, when it was introduced in school (All Saints High School) for the sake of fitness.
Within eight days, she won a silver medal in an inter-school meet.
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That was just the beginning and the latest gold in the Grand National Championship at Talkatora Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on September 13, is another reminder of her growing reputation.
“This is a great moment for me. There is no better joy than being the national champion and more importantly, I will represent my country in the World Championships.
This is a dream for any athlete,” says the political science student from Villa Marie College.
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Falak represented Andhra Pradesh in the 68 kg women’s individual kumite category in the Delhi nationals and cleared five rounds beating opponents from Tamil Nadu police, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and West Bengal with convincing margins.
“This win could not have come at a more appropriate time for me. All the efforts under the watchful eyes of my coaches Nagendra Babu and Balram Rajput over the years are yielding results now. I just hope to come good at the big events in the days to come including the Dubai Asian Championship this year,” she says.