17-year-old Suzan J Shaikh, a resident of Vadodara, stood third in the Karate Association of India’s national level tournament.
Suzan’s was introduced to karate was by her father Jahid Shaikh five years ago because he wanted his daughter to be well versed in the art of self-defense. At the age of 12 when Suzan started practicing karate, she started winning medals and accolades.
A student of Nihon Shotokan Karate Association India, Suzan trains under her coach Abbas Saiyyad for 2 hours every day. Her passion has led her to receive 19 gold medals, 5 silver medals and 3 bronze medals in the last 5 years leading her to the first position in the district and then first at the state level in Gujarat.
This year, Suzan participated and came in at third place amongst 24 participants, (one gold medalist in karate from each state) at the national level in the Karate Association India (KAI) tournament held at Guwahati, Assam on April 5-6.
A student of St Mary’s School, she says her teachers and even her principal are noting but supporting in the pursuit of her passion. The school even postponed her final exams this year as she made her way to Guwahati for the Karate Association of India tournament.
