27-year-old Mysuru woman to become the new coach of India's Kick-Boxing team

27-year-old Pooja Harsha is all set to create a new record She has been selected as first South Indian woman to be the national coach for kick-boxing Pooja, who has represented the country in kick-boxing, was chosen as the national coach for World Association Of Kick Boxing Organisation, India

Any form of martial takes years of practice and perseverance to become a master at. Legends like Ip Man and Bruce Lee dedicated their life learning the nuances of the arts and passing them on to the next generation. However, no woman’s name comes to mind when you talk about martial arts.

However, this Mysuru woman plans to change all that.

27-year-old Pooja Harsha is all set to create a new record. She has been selected as first South Indian woman to be the national coach for kick-boxing.

Pooja, who has represented the country in kick-boxing, was chosen as the national coach for World Association Of Kick Boxing Organisation (WAKO) India, at a training camp at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, Haryana, reported Bangalore Mirror.

Pooja was trained under Russian Vadim Ukrainstev, the vice-president of WAKO, and Manuel Nordio from Italy. Pooja is the first woman from the state to be awarded with Black Belt Second Degree in K1 Style under WAKO.

Pooja told BM, "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."

Pooja wants more girls to take up martial arts.

"My ultimate aim is to get all the girls inside boxing ring. I always felt that women are capable of doing anything that men are. I was confident that I would go long way in this path which I chose to be and is passionate about."