Kickboxing is a passion for this lad

When the youths of this generation, especially those who have completed computer education and information technology are all set to find greener pastures in multinational companies and settle down in their lives, here is a young man from Mysore, who wants to make his mark in Kickboxing, a type of martial art.

There was a time when the youngsters got attracted to martial arts like Karate and Kung Fu after the super hit films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan took the Indian silverscreens by a storm. Several schools and associations teaching martial arts mushroomed across the country. Similarly, kickboxing was also made popular and more interesting to the locals by the heroes of bollywood and sandalwood, shedding their blood for a cause, of course, on screen.

Meet 22 year old Prathap G, a BCA student who was interested in martial arts and was trained under coach Ravi C, General Secretary of Karnataka Kickboxing Association.
Speaking to City Herald, Prathap said he was passionate about martial arts and had joined a school to be trained in Karate and Kung Fu. It was at this time, S S Harichandan, President of Indian Association of Kickboxing Association (IAKO), visited the centre on a selection spree and one look at the abundant talent, Prathap was on board for a national-level tournament.

Incidentally, Prathap was the lone candidate selected from Mysore. In all, six persons were selected from Karnataka, four from Bidar and one from Shimoga, and Prathap from Mysore, who set out to Odisha to participate in the 16th Junior and 17th Senior National Kickboxing Championship 2011, accompanied by three officials.

The tournament was hosted by Angul District Kickboxing Association in association with All Odisha Kickboxing Association and Indian Association of Kickboxing Organisations.
Prathap, came out with flying colours securing Bronze medal in the Full Contact event of below 81 kg category at the tournament held between April 7 to 10 at Angul stadium, Odisha.

Speaking about the game, he says though the chances of injuries are higher, Kickboxing gives a real feeling of a fight, when compared to other games.
Explaining further Prathap said the Olympic Council of Asia has already sanctioned its recognition to World Association of Kickboxing Organisation (WAKO) and included Kickboxing in the 2nd Asian indoor games that was held in October 2007. IAKO Indian team has participated in the 3rd Asian Indoor Games 2009 in Vietnam and this time, sanctioned by IOA as well as Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.

The days are not far to witness Kickboxing in the prestigious Asian and Olympic Games, he adds.

Prathap, who was inspired by Tony Jaa, a Thailand actor who is famous for his stunts after watching his film One Bank Two, aims of writing Civil services exam and serve the country.

His father H S Ganghadaraswamy is a Headmaster at a government school in T Narasipur and mother Savithramma, is a homemaker. And, they indeed are proud of his achievements.