Karate kid Sukanya Sen (10), a class V student of Kolkata’s top-ranked Modern High School for Girls, is one of a growing crop of promising female practitioners of this mentally and physically demanding martial art. Last October, she won the sub-junior kumite — combat with a live opponent — title at the 21st International Sports Karate Association (ISKA) World Cup staged in Liverpool, New South Wales (Australia).

Standing tall at a mere 4 ft 8 inches and weighing 38 kg, Sukanya, a member of the 30-strong team representing India at the World Cup championship, overcame 24 opponents to win the title. Her Australia tour was partly sponsored by the Kolkata-based Seishinkai Karate Federation, which sends its top three students to the ISKA championship annually. The 10-year-old was accompanied by her mother, Dr. Sudeshna Roy Sen, and coach, Shihan Premjit Sen, also a referee certified by the Asian Karate Federation.

The elder child of Partho Sen, an architect, and Dr. Sudeshna, an ophthalmologist, Sukanya was introduced to this ancient Japanese martial art at the age of six when her father enrolled her at an academy in Salt Lake run by the Seishinkai Karate Association, which is licensed by the Karate Association of India.

Since then, this talented pre-teen with lightning-fast reflexes has been on a roll. In April 2014, at the 10th Kotaka’s Cup organised by the International Karate Federation at Delhi’s Talkatora stadium, she bagged gold, silver and bronze in three events. Later in October, Sukanya won gold at the International Open Karate Championships organised by the Japan Karate Federation in Yoita, Niigata, Japan.

Although still a little child, Sukanya has substantially developed the discipline and mental toughness required of this martial sport. “I am prepared to work hard at my studies and karate. I love them both,” says this little wonder. 
Wind beneath your wings!

Baishali Mukherjee (Kolkata)