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world cup: Barodian Only Gujarat Female Kickboxer For Turkey World Cup | Vadodara News – Times of India


Vadodara: When the baton of responsibility and adulting was passed on to her young hands after her parents’ demise, 22-year-old Manisha Valla didn’t give in to her fears or tears — she kicked away apprehensions and geared up to fend for her two younger siblings.
While carrying out her familial duties for all these years, Manisha decided to learn the art of self-defence to protect her family and joined kickboxing classes in the city at the age of 27.
It needed her just 14 months to clinch a spot as the first woman from Gujarat to be qualified for the kickboxing world cup.
“I joined kickboxing classes to learn the art of self-defence as I and my younger sister Twinkle are on our own in the city. But, I never thought that I will represent India in the kickboxing world cup someday. It’s a dream come true,” 28-year-old Manisha told TOI.
Manisha, part of the squad for the 7th Turkish Open Kickboxing World Cup that will kick off in Istanbul from May 12, the resident of Gir-Somnath district, who shifted to Vadodara in 2010 for graduation studies, completed her Masters in Mental Health in Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Her younger brother Kalpesh works in their home town.
“I was always a sportsperson and had participated in the All India Inter-University tournament in athletics during my graduation. It was a couple of years ago that I felt like learning some form of martial art. I had learnt a bit of judo/karate in school. So, I picked kickboxing and I am a much more confident person now,” said Manisha who played in a national kickboxing tourney last year and won a bronze medal.
“Being a sportsperson, she had an athletic body and a very good stamina. Manisha put in a lot of hard work and learnt the art of kickboxing quickly. She is the only woman from Gujarat to be picked up for the world cup,” said Siddharth Bhaleghare, Manisha’s coach.
“My coach has taught me well and I am confident of winning a medal in the world cup. My dream is to represent India in the Olympics someday,” Manisha said.





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