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Kathmandu Tuesday February 27, 2001 Falgun 16, 2057.
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I’m not scared of being beaten up : Anish
Panthi
By Rajeeb Man Tamrakar
KATHMANDU, Feb 26 - In the first glimpse, Anish Panthi looks like just
another 11-year-old boy next door. But a closer look would revel that this tiny looking
boy is a brown belt in Sito-Ryu Karate, something not many of his age have achieved.
Standing hardly four feet from the ground, this fifth grade student from
Kantipur English School has been practicing the art of Karate since he was just five. His
age and size, besides his technical prowess, has made him a center of the attraction in
most of the tournaments he participated.
Panthi says that it was his father who advised him to join Karate classes.
Having his elder sister in this form of martial art, it was easier for him than for most
of the youngsters of his age.
His days start early in the morning when he jogs for half-an-hour to the dojo
(Mitrapark) from his residence at Dhumbarahi along with his sister Anjana. On an average
he practices for about three hours a day: two hours in the dojo and an hour at home in the
evening which includes few sets of push ups, Kata practice, kicks and punches etc.
Despite starting young and having the talents, the going has not been easy
for this lad. He has had his share of difficulties and drawbacks. According to Indra
Shahi, Panthi’s coach, his weight and height are the major drawbacks. He says;
"It is very difficult to find an opponent of his weight and height, so he has to
fight with someone who is heavier than he is."
Panthi, however, is undaunted with this problem. "I do get beaten up
time and again but I believe it will make me tougher and I am not scared of getting beaten
up," he says.
He had to sustain injuries in many tournaments and practice bouts. He recalls
the incident when he fractured his shoulder during a bout with an opponent who was much
heavier and taller than he was in a tournament.
Although, losing is not a good experience, he says that even if he gets
beaten in the tournaments it gives him determination to perform better the next time.
But he feels bad when the referee favors his or her own team and display
partiality in their decision. According to Binod Rana, one of the Karate coach, there are
instances when a player weighing 35 kg is allowed to play in 25 kg weight category.
He wants to wait for few more years to appear for the black belt grading
because he feels that if he loses to a junior player in a tournament after getting black-
belt it will be a big disgrace to him.
His ambition is to represent Nepal in the Asian Games and bring home gold
medal.
Besides that he says he would like to be a doctor and serve the needy people
but at the same time to continue with the sports as a personal hobby.
Besides Karate he plays cricket and football from the school team. His
favorite players are Sachin Tendulkar and favorite national player is Susmita Kandel, a
national Karate player who has represented Nepal in the recent Asian Games.
In the free time he gets, he says he loves to read books and his favorite
book is 101 Dalmatians, a popular children’s book. |
