Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 9: A youngster who has made a name for himself in martial arts by representing India at the international level has been selected for the National Icon Award this year.
Hailing from Pulwama’s Pampore, 21-year-old Maroof Hilal Sofi expressed his joy and excitement over the feat, terming it nothing short of a miracle. He noted that the award would significantly contribute to his career.
“It means a lot to me at this stage of my career; I have already represented the country on various occasions, with the most recent being in the Philippines. It feels good that I have brought laurels to my place as well,” he said.
Maroof mentioned that this achievement has also made his parents proud. “They are equally happy, including those living in this area. Maybe I needed it at this point because it will help me excel further.”
It is noteworthy that recently, he participated in the 16th World Championships held in the Philippines, where he secured bronze for India in martial arts. “Apart from this, I have so far participated in seven nationals, in which I have secured 6 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze. I am hopeful of continuing with it and bringing laurels to the country as well as J&K,” he said.
In his message to youngsters in the field of sports or those aspiring to be a part of it, he emphasized the need for consistency and determination. “This field gives you worth, and apart from that, it keeps you physically fit and away from negatives.” He is also training various youngsters from Pulwama district as well as Srinagar, ensuring that they become well-versed in Thang-Tha.
“I am making sure that my skills are passed down to other youngsters so that they can also create a niche for themselves,” he said.
Maroof demands an indoor hall for practice as players are facing grave hardships. “We are largely doing it in the open, but due to winter, the practice usually gets interrupted. For this, we need to have an indoor hall, which must be taken note of by the administration so that players can engage in practice without interruptions,” he said.
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