Mysuru Kick-Boxer Is the First South Indian Woman to Become a National Coach!

Pooja Harsha from Mysuru has represented India in kick-boxing – a sport not a lot of women are known for. Now, the 27-year-old has been chosen as the national coach for World Association Of Kick Boxing Organisation (WAKO) India. She is the first South Indian woman to have become the national coach

She was selected at a training camp at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak. Russian Vadim Ukrainstev, the vice president of WAKO, and Manuel Nordio from Italy were the ones who trained Pooja.
“It was kick-boxing that attracted me the most during childhood. Everyone would say that



kick-boxing is a sport for men in which women can’t take part, let alone excel. It was then I asked myself: why can’t I get trained in martial arts, karate and kick-boxing? That’s how I took the plunge,” she told.
Pooja has completed her Masters in Psychology. She wants more girls to get into kick-boxing as currently there is a dearth. She says that her ultimate goal is to get them to the boxing ring.

“I always felt that women are capable of doing anything that men are. I was confident that I would go a long way in this path which I chose to be and is passionate about,” she added.