KOCHI: Choosing between dance and karate is never going to be an easy task for 15-year-old Sradha Sathish, who hails from Vadakara. But the graceful movements of dance and the power-packed blows of karate are equally important for this lean girl.
Taking a break from her romance with dance for a few days, she is now in Singapore to participate in the Asia-Pacific Shitoryu Karate Championship-2014.
What makes her achievement more special is, she is the only female participant among the 86 participants from Kerala, in the 14-15 years category.
“I am very happy to participate in the international championship in Singapore and my parents and friends are even happier about this achievement,” says Sradha Sathish, who is a class X student of Sree Gokulam Public School, Vadakara. She will participate in the Kumite and Kata categories. She has been practising karate under U K Madhu Master for the past nine years.
“For teachers and peers, Sradha is a confident and inspiring girl. They are proud to have my daughter with them,” says Sradha’s mother and English teacher with Navodaya Vidyalaya, N Sunitha Kumari. “I was worried about her timid nature when she was a child. To bring some changes in her nature, I introduced her to karate with the permission of my husband,” she says. It was also her mother’s wish that made her a dancer. Her father, who is an audit officer, and her brother Sarang Sathish, a class VIII student, are her inspiration. A couple of years ago, during a function at the Vadakara Town Hall, Sradha danced her way to spectators’ hearts, showcasing her thorough control over the body. “It was my arangetam; along with my friends I performed what I have learnt with much passion and dedication. The response of the audience overwhelmed me. Then I realised that dance is an ineluctable part of my life,” Sradha smiles. Since Sradha is in class X and has some karate championships to participate in, dance has taken a back seat temporarily. “Once I finish my examinations, I will go back to dance with all my passion,” says the young girl. Her favourite form of dance is Bharatanatyam. She is also learning Kuchuppudi under Sasi Memunda. Her trainers also agree that she will have a brilliant career in dance. Sradha, who aspires to become a college lecturer, says dance is her way of relaxation, while karate gives her the confidence and courage to be a daring girl. “I wish to popularise the beauty of karate and dance among girls in the future,” she says.