PESHAWAR: A young student of Peshawar was accorded a warm welcome on his return from Sri Lanka where he won South Asian Karate Championship.

Mohammad Adil was given the award for the year 2022 at a ceremony held in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo hosted by Lanka’s Karate South Asian Federation. Sports veterans and karate players attended the event.

Around 500 karate players hailing from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) countries participated in the annual event. Mohammad Adil was rated best for sliver in U-14 individual cadet category for Pakistan, Kumite Karate world championship award for the year 2022. He bet India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka by 8-2, 10-5 and 5-7 strikes in the final round.

On his return, the Karate Association of Peshawar Public School and College accorded him warm welcome by decorating him with best student of the year shield, commendation certificate and cash prize. The event was held here on Tuesday with Principal Prof Iftikhar Ahmed in the chair. Senior faculty and alumni attended the event.

Prof Iftikhar on the occasion asked students to participate in sports activities alongside academics and try to excel in both with confidence. He praised Karate Association of the school for grooming students and assured players of providing all out support to them.

Later in brief chat with this scribe, Mr Adil said that it was his first-ever experience to participate in an international karate championship. He said kumite, a self-defence technique in karate, should be promoted at school level. He added local players had great potential to learn and exhibit kumite karate.

The 8th grader heads his school’s Karate Association and also teaches techniques to his schoolmates besides learning advanced courses in his elder brother’s private karate club in Peshawar Gulbeg area after his study hours.

Mr Adil said his late father was a retired officer of Air Force while his elder brother Mohammad Kashif being a senior karate player himself had groomed him up for the international karate U-14 cadet category championship.

“Students should give equal time to both study and games but commitment is the prime perquisites for the success. I feel proud that I grabbed a medal for Pakistan at this young age,” he said proudly.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2022