Sheikh Nadeem
Three young karate athletes from South Kashmir have made their mark at the prestigious Shotokan International Karate Championship 2025, held in Amritsar, Punjab.
The championship witnessed participation from four countries—India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Representing Kashmir were Zaid Gulzar, Ayesha Aejaz, and Mohammad Mukaram. Two of them hail from Dooru Shahabad, while one is from Qazigund in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Out of 500 participants from four countries, 40 students from Jammu Kashmir competed, with only three from the Amateur Dojo making it to the final selection. Zaid Gulzar and Ayesha Aejaz won gold medals, while Mohammad Mukaram secured bronze. Zaid Gulzar, a student of Army Goodwill School Ujroo, Qazigund, and Ayesha Aejaz, from Decent Public School, Dooru, brought pride to the region with their outstanding performances. Mohammad Mukaram, a student of Shemstar International School, Qazigund, added to the region’s glory with his bronze medal.
Speaking to our correspondent, Zaid credited his success to his parents and coach, Aamir Gulzar, for providing him with the platform to achieve his dreams. Both Zaid and Ayesha encouraged youth participation in sports and urged young people to stay away from social evils like drug addiction.
Coach Aamir Gulzar expressed immense pride in his students’ achievements, calling it an honour not only for their families but for Anantnag and the entire Jammu Kashmir region. “Our students have shown immense dedication and hard work since the beginning, and their efforts have finally paid off by the grace of Almighty Allah,” he said.
Highlighting the championship’s scale, Aamir noted that 500 children from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and India competed at the international level, with 40 from Jammu Kashmir. Among them, only Zaid and Ayesha clinched gold, while Mohammad Mukaram secured bronze.
Zonal Physical Education Officer Dooru, Bashir Ahmad, praised the young athletes’ achievements, calling it a proud moment for Anantnag, Jammu Kashmir, and Ladakh. He emphasized the importance of youth participation in sports to combat the growing menace of drug addiction in society.
The remarkable performances of these young karatekas have not only brought laurels to their families but have also elevated the sporting spirit in the region, inspiring many young athletes to pursue their dreams on the international stage.