MANGALURU: For 15-year-old Kavya, a Class 10 student and an international karate champion, the sky is the limit. And helping her reach it is her mother Kusumavathi (48), a beedi roller in Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada district.
Kavya, a student of Sri Devi High School in Punacha, won gold in the 38-kg category in Kata and Kumite styles of karate at an international-level karate championship held in Sri Lanka earlier this month. And Kusumavathi is all set to prepare her daughter for an international event in Dubai due in April next.
“Her father always encouraged her when she showed interest in taking part in competitions,” says Kusumavathi. Kavya’s father, a driver, died in an accident in January this year.
Ever since Kusumavathi has taken it upon herself to encourage her little girl in her endeavours. She sends Kavya for training, ensures that she stays healthy and makes arrangements for her to get trained for competitions.
Residents and social service organisations in the taluk too have been of great support and helped by pitching in with money to send Kavya to the international contest, says Kusumavathi.
Kavya’s coach Dinesh, who chose her for the international contest after she showed grit and won gold in the national-level open championship in 2017, ensures she practices thrice a week.
Apart from karate, Kavya is also a Bharatanatyam dancer.
“She received distinction in Bharatanatyam recently. While she trains in karate with her younger brother during weekdays, weekends are for classical dance,” says Kavya’s mother.
“I joined karate classes when several others girls in my class joined it. But now, in Class 10, most of them have quit... it is just two of us now,” says Kavya.
Unsure of what she wants to pursue in academics, Kavya is however certain of continuing with her karate and dance.