By Sheikh Nadeem
Anantnag, February 6: 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. Among the competitors representing Kashmir were Zaid Gulzar, Ayesha Aejaz, and Mohammad Mukaram.
Two of these players hail from Dooru Shahabad, while the third belongs to the Qazigund area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Out of the 500 participants from four states, 40 students from Jammu Kashmir competed, with only three from the Amateur Dojo making it to the final selection. Notably, Zaid Gulzar and Ayesha Aejaz secured gold medals, while Mohammad Mukaram bagged a 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 remarkable performances. Mohammad Mukaram, a student of Shemstar International School Qazigund, added to the glory with his bronze medal finish.
Speaking to our correspondent, Zaid attributed his success to his parents and coach, Aamir Gulzar, who provided him with the platform to achieve his dreams.
Encouraging the youth, Zaid and Ayesha urged young people to participate in such sports events and refrain from social evils like drug addiction.
Coach Aamir Gulzar expressed his pride in his students’ achievements, calling it a moment of honor not only for their families but also for Anantnag and the entire Jammu and 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 scale of the championship, Aamir noted that 500 children from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and India competed at the international level, with 40 from Jammu and Kashmir. Among them, only Zaid and Ayesha secured gold, while Mohammad Mukaram earned a bronze medal.
Zonal Physical Education Officer Dooru, Bashir Ahmad, lauded the young athletes’ achievements, calling it a moment of pride for Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. He emphasized the need for youth participation in sports to combat the rising 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.