Karate kid achieves her dream
ACHIEVING her South African colours for karate is a dream come true for 8-year-old Lingeshwari Naidoo.
The pint-size dynamo started karate three years ago and has fallen in love with it ever since.
The red belt athlete competed on Friday in the National Children, Cadets and Juniors Championship held in Durban and was placed joint third in her division after losing in the semi final. However, she was still able to get her South African colours.
“She enjoys karate a lot. She practices with her older brother Vijayen who is a black belt and she is always coming up with new moves and copying styles from movies” said her mother, Nancy Naidoo. Next on the agenda is the Zone 6 championships in Mozambique which will take place in June .
“She participated in development and regional tournaments where she was usually placed second or third.
“It is a double celebration, with Lingeshwari getting her SA colours and her brother Vijayen getting his KZN colours” said Nancy.
Lingeshwari said when she is not so busy with karate she enjoys drawing, watching Tamil movies and tasting her granny’s cooking.
Her coach Sensei Sudhir Bali from Warriors Karate Academy said the tournament was very difficult.
“The best karatekas from around the country were represented so I expected it to be tough.
“The KZN team went into this tournament full of confidence and their fighting spirit was rewarded with a handsome haul of medals,” said Bali.
“I’m also very proud of Lingeshwari. I see how hard she trains and I know she will make us proud when she competes in Mozambique.”