Mayor Kavitha Sanil wins gold in Indian Karate Championship

Mangaluru: Kavitha Sanil, city Mayor clinched gold in the finals in the above 65-kg category during Indian Karate Championship held in the city on November 5.

Sanil who entered the Karate competition fray after a gap of 9 years, defeated emerging champion Nisha Nayak 7-3. With this victory Sanil can compete to be a qualifier for the 2020 Olym-pics to be held in Tokyo.

Initially the scores were equal. But in the subsequent rounds Sanil could beat Nayak with four points.

Sanil was a national champion between 1996 and 2008 and was also an international champion thrice.

Sanil who was away from karate for many years, undertook rigorous practice for the national championship despite her busy schedule as the Mayor of the city.

The two-day national-level open karate tournament was inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the presence of Mayor Kavitha Sanil, State minister B Ramanath Rai, MLA Shakunthala Shetty, MLA Abhayachandra Jain, Ivan D’ Souza and MLA Moideen Bhava at Nehru Maidan on November 4. The event was organised by Self Defense School of Indian Karate Magalore Dojo.