SRINAGAR: Kashmir’s 13-year-old kick boxing champion, Tajamul Islam is in the news again. This time for clinching another gold against Argentina in the finals of World Kickboxing Championship in the Under 14 category in Cairo (Egypt).
In the event which was held from October 18-24, Tajamul defeated her Argentine opponent, Lalina in the finals. On her way to the finals, she defeated two local players and a French opponent in her penultimate bout. Talking about her fight to The Times of India, Tajamul said her opponent in the final was quick with her moves but she kept her cool and calm, which paid off.
“I want to break as well as join the bones by becoming a ‘bone and joint’ doctor,” Tajamul joked about her aim of becoming an orthopaedician.
Tajamul credited her mother for encouragement and coaxed her father to allow her to play the game.
“I feel very proud of my daughter. The news of her winning the gold has spread in the area,” her father said.
In Tajamul, Jammu and Kashmir saw the rise of star. “Many congratulations to Tajamul Islam of Bandipora for scripting history in Cairo Egypt by winning the Gold medal at the world Kickboxing Championship 2021. Our Young kickboxing champion has done exceptionally well over the years,” Lt Governor Manoj Sinha wrote on twitter. “Her athletic journey of remarkable passion and unparalleled grit will inspire many youngsters of the country to achieve new milestones.”
Tajamul got into kickboxing in 2014 when she joined a local academy, which trained young boys and girls in martial arts in Bandipora
Born in Tarkpora village in Bandipora, Tajamul is the third of the five children born to her parents. Currently, a student of seventh standard at the Army Goodwill School in Bandipora, Tajamul had earlier created history by clinching a gold medal in the World KickBoxing Championship in the under 9 category in 2016 held in Italy. She had defeated her rival from the USA in the finals. During that time, around 90 countries had participated in the championship.
Her coach at that time, Fasil Ali had said that it was for the first time that a player from sub-junior category won a gold medal in the game.
Her 2016 win had helped the then Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti to celebrate the success of the young kid. She was honoured and showered praises and prizes and was made an instant model in the local sports arena.
Her Egypt gold is being celebrated at the highest level, right now. From India’s embassy in Egypt to a number of ministers in Delhi everybody has tweeted the rare win of the Kashmir girl in Cairo. Kiren Rijiju, India’s law and justice minister has shared Tajamu’s meeting at a sports event on his twitter handle. Her gold is being seen as a historic moment.
