Tajamul Islam, an eight-year-old girl hailing from a remote village of Tarkpora area of Bandipora in Jammu and Kashmir, has made history by becoming the youngest player from the sub-junior category to clinch a gold medal at the World Kickboxing Championship in Italy.
8 year old Kashmiri girl Tajamul Islam wins gold at World Kickboxing Championship of under-eight players in Italy’s Andria. pic.twitter.com/GgzGbEzSo8
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 15, 2016
Tajamul Islam, who received kickboxing coaching for two years in the backyard of her teacher, Master Fasil Ali Dar., is a national-level Kickboxing champion in India. The little girl, who is a student in II standard, represented India among 90 competing countries in Italy, The Hindu reports. Ali explains that Tajamul is the youngest in a category where boxers up to age 14 can participate.
“We lacked even the basic infrastructure. Yet, she won gold.” Dar told Hindustan Times during a press interaction after Tajmul beat her opponent, a contender from US, for the championship title.
Tajmul, daughter of Ghualm Mohammed Lone, who works as a driver in the Valley, told the media, as reported by Firstpost:
“Our village is very backward but I, along with other kids like me, are going to take it to new heights,”
I want to thank all the people who supported me, feeling proud that I won gold for India: Tajamul Islam pic.twitter.com/rg2EwL0Ibs
— ANI (@ANI_news) November 15, 2016
The new comes as a pleasant change to the curfew ridden state, which has seen massive protests, anti-military clashes and violence since the the execution of Burhan Wani in July.
Kudos, Tajamul!
Feature Image Source: Twitter