Mumbai’s Karate black belt bags ‘first’ honour

Mumbais Shaheen Akhtar 52 is a rarity She is the first Indian woman to serve as an Officiating Referee at the Asian Games here The assignment coincides with her appointment as a member of the Technical Committee of the Asian Karate Federation AKFmdashagain shersquos the first Indian to make it to this postItrsquos not a common occurrence for a technical official from a certain sport to get appointed to a multidiscipline event like the Asiad from a country that is not participating in that sporting discipline at that GamesIn that sense Mumbairsquos Shaheen Akhtar 52 is a rarityShaheen is the first Indian woman to serve as an Officiating Referee at the Asian Games here The assignment coincides with her appointment as a member of the Technical Committee of the Asian Karate Federation AKFmdashagain shersquos the first Indian to make it to this postA fourtime former national champion and 8th degree black belt Shaheen who grew up honing her karate skills at the Christ Church School in Byculla has represented India at the 2008 Commonwealth Championships in Scotland and World Championship in Tokyo Currently she is among the most qualified WKF World Karate Federation and AKF female referees in South AsiaAlso Read Asian Games 2023 Indias ParulPriti bag silver and bronze in 3000m steeplechaseShaheen is obviously disappointed that India have not participated in karate at this Asiad after the AKF refused to accept the entries of the Indian contingent picked by the Sports Authority of India as those names were not approved by the Karate India Organisation KIO which is recognised as the National Sports Federation of karate by the AKF and WKFLate goaheadKIO did receive a court notification to go ahead with the team selection later but it was too late as the last date for submission of entries had passedldquoIt wouldrsquove been great to see an Indian karate team participating here Many athletes from India have won medals in international karate events like Premier League Youth League Series A and Commonwealth Karate Championships In fact India have been No 1 in the medal tally for the South Asian Karate Championships for the last three years so there is definitely talent in our countryrdquo the Mazga on resident who is the only woman among 42 referees selected from other Asian countries told middaylsquoWe need govt supportrsquoThe veteran karateka is hoping KIO receives the required government support and Indian karate comes shining through at the 2026 Asian Games in AichiNagoya Japan ldquoIrsquom sure that in the next Asiad Indiarsquos deserving karatekas will not just represent the country but also win medals All we need is government support in our endeavoursrdquo added Shaheen who will oversee the menrsquos and womenrsquos karate events at the Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium from October 57 Speaking of the environment at the Games here Shaheen said ldquoItrsquos brilliant and very vibrant China have done a great job of organising everything perfectly and Irsquom delighted honoured and blessed to be creating history by participating in itrdquo she signed off