Tajamul, eight-year-old Kashmiri girl wins gold in world kickboxing

Srinagar: An eight-year-old girl from Kashmir has won a gold medal for India at an international kickboxing event without having to throw a punch in anger. Tajamul, from Bandipore district in north Kashmir, was the lone participant in her event in the below-35kg category at the world kickboxing championships in Italy this month, a sports official said. At eight, Tajamul was the youngest participant from India in the November 7-11 championships. "None of her rivals were able to obtain Italian visas. The World Kickboxing Federation's rules say that if there's only one contestant in any event, he or she should be declared the winner," Yogesh Shad, working president of the Kickboxing Federation of India, said. "India has won two gold, two silver and five bronze medals in the championships. This is the country's best ever performance in the kickboxing worlds," Shad told The Telegraph from Italy. The other Indian to win gold - in the below-57kg category - is Yadvinder Singh from Haryana. Although luck played a role in Tajamul bagging this particular medal, her coaches were sure she would win laurels for the country. Faisal Ali Dar, her coach in Kashmir, said she had surprised experts through her self-confidence, skill and aggression. "She is an excellent fighter and has a great future in the sport," Dar said. He added that Tajamul's family and their friends were planning a big celebration after she returned from Italy. "In fact, people are already celebrating here (in Bandipore)," he said. Bandipore, like other districts in the Valley, has witnessed massive pro-independence protests during the current, four-month-old unrest. Sources in Tajamul's family said the army had played a big role in her development as a kickboxer. Tajamul goes to the nearest army goodwill school. A source said the army had borne most of the expenses on her training and travel. Tajamul is the third child of Ghulam Mohammad Lone, a driver with a private company. Her elder sister had got her enrolled at a kickboxing academy in Bandipore. -The Telegraph, India