Srinagar: Kupwara Vilgam’s Rashid Shafi has won a gold medal at a Wushu championship in Sweden. He says his victory is the result of never giving up and keeping faith.
Hailed as a rising star in martial arts, Rashid was accorded a warm and festive welcome by his family, neighbours and supporters upon his return home.
The entire locality celebrated his achievement with cheers, firecrackers and slogans praising his dedication and success.
Expressing gratitude after his triumph, Rashid, as per the news agency — Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said he dedicated his success to his coaches and supporters who guided him throughout his journey.
“I am thankful to Almighty Allah for blessing me with this grand success. My coach Aijaz Hasan stood by me through all challenges and I am equally thankful to my chief coach, Kuldeep Handu, whose training made this possible,” he said.
Rashid, who began his Wushu journey in 2016, said the championship in Sweden was a challenging experience. “I had to face tough opponents from Italy, Bangladesh, and the host country Sweden and winning gold against them feels incredible,” he said.
Recalling his struggles, Rashid said he faced several hardships and even sustained injuries during his training, but motivation from his coach kept him focused.
“There were moments of doubt and demotivation, but my coach reminded me that perseverance brings results. Today, I have made it possible for my region to hold its first-ever gold medal in Wushu,” he said.
He also dedicated his success to his parents for their unconditional support.
Calling upon the youth of Kashmir to choose sports over harmful habits, Rashid said, “Sports offer a bright future. I appeal to the youth to come forward and engage in sports.”
He also urged the government to improve training infrastructure and support budding athletes. “More focus is needed on sports promotion so that more youth are attracted to the field and our region continues to shine,” he said.
Terming Rashid’s feat as a ‘historic and proud moment’ for Kupwara, his trainer Aijaz Hasan said it was the result of years of disciplined training and perseverance.
“This medal means a lot for Kupwara and the entire UT. It’s the first time our region has bagged gold at such an international Wushu event,” he said, lauding the support of the J&K Sports Council and police authorities for encouraging youth talent—(KNO)