The young karate champs with their certificates and medals after their return to Patna. Telegraph picture

Patna, Oct. 27: Karate champs from the state, who went to Mumbai to take part in Akshay Kumar International Karate Do Championship, have returned home with a number of medals. Thirteen members of the 23-strong team have bagged 16 medals in various events.

Of the 16 medals they won, three are gold, eight silver and five bronze.

College of Commerce student Sagar Kumar ‘Lee’, who won a gold in the Under-18 category, said: “I feel like I am on the top of the world. I just can’t believe that I won a gold. My parents were more excited than me. My father gifted me a motorbike, when I returned home.”

Asked what his future plans are, Sagar, who has added ‘Lee’ to his name inspired by Bruce Lee, said: “I look forward to take part in national- and international-level tournaments.”

Sagar’s coach, Pankaj Kambli, said: “This was by far the best performance by him in any competition. There was a marked difference between Sagar and his opponents — he was head and shoulders ahead of them. In the last game of the tournament, he defeated his opponent 9-2.”

The disciple was, however, only too eager to reflect the glow of success back on the guru. “I am happy for my coach, Kambli Sir. After the last game, the referees were so pleased with my performance that they started to inquire about my guru. I was really proud of Kambli Sir at that moment,” said Lee.

Kambli, 28, is the general secretary of Sports Karate Do Association of Bihar. He, too, won a bronze in the category of 67.1kg to 75kg. He said: “Victory in a competition is always sweet. However, I am proud that I have been able to coach many students.”

For 11-year-old Kumar Shashank, his victory has given his village Nakta Diara a reason to celebrate. His father, Satish Kumar Rai, said: “My father Sudama Rai, who is an ex-Army man, was very happy with his grandson’s victory. He threw a kheer party for all the residents of the village, when he learnt that Shashank has won a silver.”

He added that he had never discouraged his son from pursing his dream. “Why should I discourage him? He loves karate more than anything else.”

The road to the competition was not smooth for everyone though.

Shomaila Ambreen, a silver-medal winner at the championship, said: “Many people in my community had reservations about my love for karate. Many of them told my mother that it was wrong. However, all that has now changed.”

The excited karate kid added that she had defeated 24 participants from Malaysia, Japan and USA. She also said she would now focus on her career.