Danish Manzoor, a Taekwondo player from Kashmir’s Baramulla district, is making the motherland proud with his achievements. Struggling for exposure in his field, he aims for the Olympics. He has won 15 gold medals in the last five years, but the lack of professional support is proving to be a stumbling block for this player, who aspires to represent the country at the Olympics.
In 2011, he won his first gold medal at the North Zone Taekwondo Championship. He calls 2013 his golden era, because that year he won two gold medals, one at the Junior State Championship held at MA Stadium Jammu and another at the Open State Championship held at Sher-e-Kashmir Indoor Sports Complex Srinagar, and one at the District-level Championship at Jhelum Stadium Baramulla. Continuing his efforts, he won one more gold at the Gulmarg Cup held at Gulmarg (Kashmir) in 2014. In the same year, he won two more golds at the Open Kashmir Taekwondo Championship held at Jhelum Stadium, Baramulla, and the Youth Service & Sports Inter Division held at Sher-e-Kashmir Indoor Sports Complex, Srinagar respectively. Also, one more gold medal in the District-level Championship in 2014. In 2015, he bagged three golds in separate events viz. Junior State Taekwondo Championship, Open Kashmir Taekwondo Championship and a District-level Taekwondo Championship. He also won 2-3 golds in the Inter-District Taekwondo Tournament.
Despite having such achievements, he is struggling to get a chance in national and international competitions. But he keeps focussing on his dreams and improving day by day.
In a brief conversation with The Chenab Times, he said, “My target is not the nationals. I want to represent my country in the Olympics.”
Now, he has requested the J&K Govt to give him a better platform, so that he can achieve his dreams.
Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times