Karate champion seeks help from government

Twelve-year-old Harsha Kotian, who has been selected for an international event in Malaysia, is finding it hard to generate funds.

Twelve-year-old Harsha Kotian has excelled in the international Karate championship held in June 2013. She now intends to attend another international event in Malaysia to be held in May. But she is finding it hard to generate funds to reach Malaysia.

Harsha, daughter of Umesh Kotian, on Friday sought the State government’s assistance to attend the event. “I come from a rural area. It is hard to generate Rs. 1.5 lakh needed to reach Malaysia along with my father. I need the assistance of the government,” she said at an interaction programme with district officials here on Friday.

‘Recognised events only’

Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, who heard her, said the State government provides assistance only to those attending events that are recognised. “The event that you are attending is not recognised,” said Mr. Ibrahim, while asking the girl to formally make a request.

“You make a formal request. We would consider it,” he said.

Harsha is a class 6 student of the Upgraded Government Higher Primary School Mandelu in Mangaluru Taluk. She started Karate at the age of eight. “I wanted her to have all the skills necessary for her self defence. So I encouraged her to pursue Karate,” said her father Umesh Kotian, who works in an electronic shop. She is being trained at a private karate school in Moodbidri, three kilometres from Mandelu.

Harsha has participated in various State and national Karate events. She has also attended a few international Karate tournaments. Her father managed to pool in money from his own resources and also get donations to meet the expenses for attending the tournament in Sri Lanka in 2013.

“I stood first in my age group in Kumite and Kata event,” Harsha said. She has to leave the country by May 28 to attend the tournament in Malaysia in June first week.