Hyderabad: A hijab-clad woman from Hyderabad will represent Indian India at the Commonwealth Karate Championship 2022 in Birmingham
The tourney will be held from September 11.
Pursuing an LLB from Sultan Ul Uloom College, she has won 20 national and 22 international championships so far. Falak is also known as the “golden girl” of Hyderabad.
“I was introduced to Karate by my elder sister, and initially it was just about learning self-defence and enhancing fitness,” she told to Siasat.com
It is to be noted that she will compete in the 68 kg Senior Female Individual Kumite category.
“When I told my parents that I want to take it up as a profession, they were apprehensive about it. However, my elder sister Syeda Ayman, convinced them, which helped me get started,” she said
Falak’s journey as a Karate player began in 2006 when she won a silver medal in the inter-school competition. “I then took part in the Indo- Sri Lankan championship in January 2007, in May that year, I participated in the International Karate Championship in Nepal,” she said.
“I practice six days a week with a focus on Kumite (sparring), footwork, and strengthening the body,” she said.
Inspired by Rafael Adhayev, the Karate champion from Azerbaijan, she credited her coaches Mohammed Shafi and Altaf Alam for their support and encouragement.
“I began wearing a Dupatta 2 and-a-half years ago out of my own will. At first, it was a little awkward but I got used to it. However, I don’t wear it while training. I began donning the hijab in January this year since I received Hidya (guidance) from Allah,” she said.
