After winning six gold and two silver medals at the national level, emerging martial-art player from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district is eyeing at his international debut, but due to financial shortcomings his dream to achieve big is constantly shadowed.

Owais Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Murran village is training hard these days to prove his mettle in martial art at the international level.

Belonging to a family that is hardly making both the ends meet, Owais had earlier received invitations to participate in international martial art championships which were to be held in South Korea in 2016 and then another one in Thailand, but, he couldn’t make it.

“I couldn’t participate due to paucity of finances,” he said, adding that it takes up to three Lakh rupees to participate in such competitions.

Owais, these days, is in search of sponsors who could bear his expenses of travelling, as his father is down due to health issues and is not able to arrange the required sum for his son’s dream to come true. “My poor father is unable to finance my trip to international competitions,” he said, adding that he is searching for sponsors who could bear his expenses, so that he could make his dream come true, his state proud of him.

According to Owais, there is an international championship going to be held in Goergia, this year, of which he desires to be a participant, but once again, financial constraints are hampering his flight to the high.

First year graduate student at Government Degree College Pulwama, Owais has gained popularity in his circle after winning six gold medals in Thang-ta—a Manipurian style of Indian martial arts—and two silver medals in Thai-boxing in national level competitions.

Owais, who started martial arts in 2001, has 21 national and domestic medals in his kitty, in addition, having the honor of being the best Thang-ta fighter among contesting players of 28 states of India.

Inspired with his striking performance, many students across Pulwama turned to him for training in different styles of martial art. 

“Around 52 boys have taken admission in my academy, out of which 40 boys attend my class on regular basis for two hours,” he said, adding that boys from Pulwama town are very enthusiastic about this game and take keen interest in learning martial art.

Guest