Danish Showkat

Three young karate athletes from South Kashmir have made a remarkable impact at the Shotokan International Karate Championship 2025, held in Amritsar, Punjab, on February 01 and 02. The competition saw participation from athletes across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Representing Kashmir, three players showcased their exceptional talent and brought laurels to the region:

1. Zaid Gulzar – Gold Medal (U14 / -35kg category)

2. Aaisha Aijaz – Gold Medal (U14 / -30kg category)

3. Mohammad Mukaram – Bronze Medal (U17 / -50kg category)

Among the winners, Aaisha Aijaz, a student of Decent Public School, Dooru Anantnag, has become a household name in her hometown. The 9-year-old third grader has now achieved international recognition by winning gold against strong competitors.

Speaking about her victory, Aaisha said: “I recently participated in the Open Karate Championship 2025 and won gold. Inshallah, I will continue to work hard and win more medals in the future. I want to make my parents, coach, and Jammu & Kashmir proud. I was overjoyed when my name was announced for the gold medal. It was an international competition, and I never imagined I would win at this level.”

“I had tough matches, facing athletes from Bangladesh, Delhi, and Nepal, but I remained determined. My parents and coach supported me throughout. As a girl, I chose karate because it keeps me fit and disciplined while keeping me away from negative influences. My message to everyone is to take part in sports and stay away from drugs.”

Zaid Gulzar, a 9-year-old student of class 5th , also expressed his excitement about winning gold. “I feel very happy to have won this medal at an international level. My parents and coach, Asif Sir, supported me throughout my journey. My coach trained me with the mindset that I must always think of my opponent as beatable. This mindset helped me achieve my goal of bringing home a gold medal to Anantnag.”

The founder and coach of Amature Dojo Academy, Amir Gulzar, shared his pride in his students’ achievements.

“I feel incredibly proud that my students got the opportunity to compete at the international level and performed exceptionally well. They have practiced diligently, and Alhamdulillah, they made Jammu & Kashmir proud by winning two golds and a bronze.”

“Today’s younger generation is getting distracted by mobile phones and negative influences. My message to parents is to guide their children and encourage them to participate in sports. Many children waste their time on social media, engaging in online fights and trolling, while young athletes like Aaisha and Zaid are proving their talent on international platforms. Sports not only build physical strength but also instill discipline and confidence. Parents should allocate at least one to two hours for their children to engage in sports.”