HYDERABAD: Girl students from Osmania University would be making a befitting statement on International Women’s Day by competing with 54 teams in a racing championship, with a go-kart designed and fabricated by them.
Two girl drivers from the team would push the levers, make the engines roar and change gears of their go-kart titled ‘Team Athena’, to claim top spot in International Series Kart (ISK) competition, to be held at Lahari Resorts from March 8 to 11, organised by Mean Metal Motors.
In November last year, 25 girl students from second, third, fourth year of Osmania University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering formed a team and built the vehicle.
The team members said while building the four-wheeler they suffered burns and cuts, but persisted to prove that they can excel in challenging situations.
“It seems difficult in the beginning. But once you get into work, it is different. We had to travel during nights to various areas of the city to secure parts for the vehicle,” said Sara Imtiazuddin, one of the members of the team.
Two of the students travelled to Bengaluru to take driving test for the racing competition.
“They were surprised to see us girls there and asked us what we were doing at test site. When we drove the vehicle, they said we performed better than other teams and have a chance to be in the top 10 positions of the competition,” said G Dhanusha Rani, who would be driving the go-kart.
Meanwhile, an all boys team comprising 25 students from the Engineering department is also going to take part in competition with their go-kart titled ‘Team Asphalt’.
Captain of the girls team K Prasanna said they took advise from boys team about designing the vehicle.
The two go-karts, meanwhile, were launched by the principal of Osmania University’s College of Engineering, S Ramachandram, on Monday at the Mechanical Engineering department premises. V Uma Maheshwar, faculty advisor of the all-girls team, was also present.
racing ahead
■ A team of 25 girls will compete with 54 teams in a go-karting event on International Women’s Day
■ The girl students from Osmania University designed and
fabricated their go-kart, titled ‘Team Athena’
■ All-boys team from the University too would take part in the competition with their go-kart, ‘Team Asphalt’