By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: Ayesha Noor, 17 year old girl from a slum in Kolkata, has won the gold medal in `Thai Pitchai International Youth Karate Championship 2013’ in Thailand on 7 October. She defeated her rival from Japan to bag the Gold medal.
The young Indian team overall showed remarkable performance with medals in other events as well.
Sor Vorapin (Thai martial world champion) presenting winning medal to Ayesha Noor of India.
Ayesha has earlier won two Gold medals in International Karate championships. In 2011 she won the Gold Medal in 15th International Karate Championship (young Group) at Mumbai, where athletes from 16 Countries had participated. She has twice been the national champion in 2011 and 2012.
Her coach, MA Ali told TCN over phone from Thailand, “We had expected Ayesha to win Gold and we are delighted at her performance.”
Ayesha with her rival from Japan after winning the Gold.
Thai Marshal World champion Sir Worapin presented the medal to Ayesha.
Ayesha’s mother Shakila Begum, who did not have even the money to bear the cost of the trip, told TCN, “It is a gift from the Almighty Allah,” She was thankful to Ayesha’s coach Ali, who according to her, takes care of the young girl like a father.”
Her mother also appreciated the efforts of the TCN in helping generate finance to support the financial cost of the trip.
The winners from India.
The story of Ayesha Noor has really been inspiring so far. She lives with her family of total 6 members in a single 8X8 feet room in a Kolkata Khula bari (slum). She lost her father four years ago. He father Noor Mohammad was a truck driver. Her elder brother Tanveer works as salesman at a roadside hawker’s shoes store and earns about Rs 125 daily.
Ayesha suffers from epilepsy and is on regular medication, but was drawn into martial art by her another brother Mohammad Faruque since childhood.
Related:
Teenage athlete from Kolkata slum may miss International Youth Karate Championship in Thailand