Pillay brothers set to show their mettle
PUNCHING above their weight from the tender age of six, two talented Chatsworth brothers are aiming for glory at the international Commonwealth Karate Championships.
Sensei Ashlyn Pillay, 23, along with his younger sibling, Sensei Ashton Warren Pillay, 19, of the Chatsworth suburb of Westcliff, have been practising karate for most of their lives.
They will get to show off their karate skills at the championships, which is set to attract some of the world’s best karatekas to Durban’s Olive Convention Centre from November 29.
The brothers are members of the International Federation of Funakoshi Shotokan Karate South Africa.
On how the the siblings got into the sport, their father, Rusty Pillay, said: “Ashlyn was a timid youngster so we got him involved in martial arts and his brother followed a few years later.”
Ashlyn is a chemical engineering student and started karate in 2002. He is a third-dan black belt, and is ranked third in the country in the under-84kg category male senior division.
Ashton, who is pursuing an education degree, is a second-dan black belt karateka.
He is ranked number 1 in the country’s male under-21 division in the over 84kg weight category.
The brothers have competed nationally and in international events over the years, including in run-outs at the 2011 martial arts championships in the Sydney Games.
This year they competed in six tournaments across the country and have been in top form, which cemented their inclusion in the Commonwealth event later this month.
The brothers are both karate instructors at the Moorton Library dojo in Chatsworth.
“We would like to thank Hanshi Eric Govender and Sensei Malvin Govender, our head coach and mentor, for their leadership over the years,” the brothers said.