A 15-year-old girl from a small village in Kerala is making it big in the world of combat sports with swift and powerful moves of her sword. Raihanath Amana of Changala village in Kasaragod has won gold in fencing at the recently held Inter SAI National Championship in Aurangabad, proving that fencing is no longer an elite combat sport accessible only to young sports enthusiasts in big cities.
Her family, especially her father Shanavaz A M, is elated with her achievement because she got the opportunity to prove her skills after being selected for fencing coaching under the Khelo India programme.
In a conservative community where girls are often discouraged from pursuing combat sports, Shanavaz saw something special in his daughter’s passion.
“Many questioned our decision. But my daughter’s happiness and dreams matter more than societal pressures. She was very much interested in different sports right from her young age, and I used to motivate her to participate in all events whether it was football, long jump, or high jump. But the real break came when an official of Sports Authority of India (SAI) conducted selection trials at her school and identified her skills in fencing. I am really happy and proud that my daughter was selected under Khelo India and she could prove her skill,” Shanavaz told “Open Digest“.
Raihanath’s family has broken stereotypes within their community to give wings to their child’s dream of becoming a sportsperson.
“I want my children to chase their dreams without being tied down by any societal pressures. I want them to achieve what I couldn’t,” said Shanavaz, who is a Kasaragod-based businessman.
Her dreams of becoming a champion fencer shine bright as she prepares for her upcoming competitions. Raihanath remains focused on her ultimate goal: to represent India on the international stage.
