”My message for children and young generations is that success and wealth are the products of a process, anyone can achieve them. Polish the talent in early age you will be successful. In old age your talent will be wasted.”
Itifaq Lone
8 years old, Tajamul Islam has become first ever Kashmiri girl to represent India at World Kickboxing Championship. When Tajamul Islam enters the boxing ring with armed chest guard, headgear and gloves her kicks acquire intimidating look. She stops to be a kid on the very ‘Box’call of referee. Her gymnastic moves hardly let her opponent to act.
This is how she broke the 16 year boys winning streak in National Kickboxing Championship. By this win she not only won the gold in sub-junior category in the National Kickboxing Championship held in New Delhi in December 2015 but also qualified for World kickboxing championship to be held at Andria, Italy in November.
A student of Army good will school, Bandipora, Tajamul Islam hails from Muslim Abad village of same district in north Kashmir.
Her father Ghulam Mohammad Lone is a driver in a private company. He had sent two more children to learn martial arts, Raziya and Mohsin both elder to Tajamul.
Tajamul’s journey to this level started with a district level martial arts championship organised by Faisal Ahmad Dar, a martial instructor. Tajamul was sent there by her school authorities to participate.
“I spotted Tajamul during her fight. She had the awesome speed and aggression, although she had a bit hesitation with game rules. But I convinced her and exposed to the game and assured her successful career”, Dar told The Legitimate.
After Tajamul won the district championship, Dar called her father and convinced him to send Tajamul to his academy for further training. He agreed but he won’t allow her to go alone so his two more children started going for martial arts training in ALLI’s academy Bandipora.
“After few weeks of training I visualize Tajamul had God’s gift. Her gymnastic moves, her reflexes, her swiftness and her anger is all what this game require. So we need to channelize her positively,” Says Dar.
Starting with district level champion at Bandipora in 2014, Tajamul got the attention at the state level championship and was declared the best fighter from Jammu and Kashmir last year.
“She defeated opponents weighing more than her and she was never scared. She was so rapid in her moves it was hard to judge her move,” says Dar, appreciating and feeling proud of Tajamul.
She participated and won National kickboxing championship at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi last year. Tajamul defeated her opponents from six states; New Delhi, Haryana, Telengana, Bihar, Maharashtra and Manipur.
Now the little girl has eyes on the world kickboxing championship.In Andria (Italy), Tajamul will be fighting best fighters of the world with around 100 nations participating.
With 7 Gold medals in national (1), state (2), and district (4) level in her credit at this younger age Tajamul Islam is ready to set bigger milestones ahead.
“Her aggression and anger needs to be polished in the very sport instead of chastising her aggression. After all she goes out in the ring to fight and win,” believes her coach.
Kashmir has a lot more talent to be nourished and explored but till now the state sports council and youth service and sports have failed to provide exposure to these talented youth. Most of them have gone unnoticed.
“Clearly speaking government is doing nothing in promotion of individual sports in valley,” says Dar “they just complete their formalities but actual work is zero”
He says State sports departments only focus on cricket and football but have done negligible work in individual sports events. “The Kashmir division has only one old indoor sports stadium build long before in 1983. Till than no sports infrastructure has been improved.
“Colleges, Schools mostly primary level school should let students to participate in individual sports alongside in team sport,” says Dar
But the family of toddler is also thankful to the army for offering sport to their kid to explore her hidden talent.
“I am very well thankful to Army 14RR. They were with Tajamul all the time in every means,” says lone, Tajamul’s father.
Lone also added that the Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council (JKSSC) and Jammu and Kashmir Youth Service and Sports (JKYSS) not even bothered to appreciate Tajamul.
“I am feeling guilty that the department has failed to accompany the girl in her sport. We are now ready to help the talented girls in individual sport,” says Bashir Ahmad, joint Director Youth Service and Sports.
Ahmad further added that as the girl was in Army school so they have their own way to excel sports events, and the department too has not noticed this girl.
“The girl is not affiliated with the district sports department and kickboxing is not our sport,” says Muzaffar Trumboo, district sports officer Bandipora.
Tajamul is now allied with Kickboxing Federation of India, and she will be playing International level from federation.
The kid is herself thankful to trainer and army.
“I am thankful to my school, my trainer and epically Indian Army who let me to explore my talent. They created a platform for students to display their talent and guided us in proper way.
”Besides the academics our teachers at good will school along with Indian army worked hard in every possible way to bring out my talent. My parents have done lot for me they send me in a martial art academy. I am so lucky that I have got such parents who supported me a lot in achieving my dream,” she adds.
”My message for children and young generations is that success and wealth are the products of a process, anyone can achieve them. Polish their raw talent in early age you will be successful. In old age your talent will be wasted.”
With inputs from Showkat Jan
Feedback at [email protected]
The story first appeared in print edition of April 27, 2016
