Triumph erases her big letdown
Karateka’s hard work pays off
A DURBAN karateka kicked aside the disappointment of being bumped from the national squad three years ago and won three gold medals at an international tournament recently.
In 2011, Riasha Singh was one of four top-ranked karate students dropped from participating in the World Junior and Cadet
We all went out there to do it not just for our badges, but for the country as a whole
Karate Championships in Malaysia.
But two weeks ago, the 20year-old chemical engineering student returned home from Zambia with three gold medals from the UFAK Africa Zone 6 Karate Championships.
“It was very disappointing that we couldn’t represent our country in 2011. That I have now made my country proud makes me feel worthy again,” said Singh.
Singh and her three teammates were removed from the list of participants after they failed to meet the deadline for paying their participation fees.
Their replacements belonged to the karate clubs of top Karate South Africa officials.
It was later found that the replacements had not paid. This resulted in the karate governing body being audited and its leadership reconstituted in the years following.
Singh took medals in three divisions: kata (choreographed karate movements), kumite (combat) and team kata (synchronised movement) with teammates Priya Pillay and Thirushni Naicker.
Singh said having Protea coach Brando Pillay with her helped her to get through the two-day event.
“It was encouraging to know he was there. In all, it is quite an honour for me. We all went out there to do it not just for our badges, but for the country as a whole. It is a great feeling to come back with something.”
But Pillay said it was Singh’s hard work that led to the payoff.
“I firmly believe Riasha, who is superfit and oozing with talent, is destined to be a World Karate Federation champion,” said Pillay.