Valley youngster struggles to fulfil Olympic dream

Rifat Mohidin

Srinagar, January 3

He has won 15 gold medals in the last five years, but lack of professional support is proving to be a stumbling block for this 18-year-old taekwondo player from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, who aspires to represent the country at the Olympics.

Danish Manzoor was 13 when he took to taekwondo in 2010, but he has impressed one and all with his skills, fetching 15 golds, one silver and one bronze medal in various national and state-level competitions since then.

Danish’s journey to this level, however, has not been easy as he continues to struggle due to lack of coaching facilities and proper exposure. “I have won 15 gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal in different state and national level competitions since 2010,” said Danish, who hails from Baramulla’s Gulshanabad Village.

Danish’s first major achievement was winning a bronze in his maiden National School Games in 2010 and since then he has not looked back. “In 2011, I won a gold medal in the state games. I also won gold in the north zone competition that year,” said Danish.

“Last year, I won gold medal in the feather weight category and qualified for the national taekwondo championship. However, I lost in the quarter final,” said the youngster as he rued lack facilities.

“I dream of representing India in the Olympics. I know I can do it if I get proper coaching and support from organisations like the Sports Authority of India,” said Danish, who has great confidence in his ability.

He said youngsters like him, who have an aptitude for sports, should be trained by professionals to excel at the highest level. “I am doing everything with the help of my family. I want to pursue a career in taekwondo, but there are very limited options for people like me in the Valley. The lack of professional support is not allowing me to fulfil my dreams,” he said.