Israel Xuivi

Dimapur, Dec. 30: “There is no shortcut, one will have to slog really hard for there is no alternative to sweating it out.” Words of wisdom from the person who has worn his spotless gi and belt to the Limca Book of Records and the victory podium eight times in nine appearances at the taekwondo nationals.

Israel Xuivi of Nagaland, the nation’s leading exponent of the traditional Korean martial art, has his name embossed in the record book for striking the most number of kicks in the least possible time.

He achieved the feat with 190 left slap kicks in a minute and 15 seconds, 252 right slap kicks in a minute and 30 seconds and 26 hooks and crescent kicks in 30 seconds.

“There is no dearth of talent among the Nagas but they hardly get any exposure. Unlike in other states, there is no financial assistance from the government in Nagaland. Worse still, there are no sponsors. So, it becomes impossible for us to take students to places outside Nagaland,” the taekwondo expert said.

Israel has not been deterred by the lack of sponsors and government support to promote the game in a state teeming with talented youngsters.

His single-minded mission to promote taekwondo in Nagaland is on the right track.

Today, he instructs hundreds of students in several schools for a nominal fee.

Israel, who is the chief instructor and technical director of the Nagaland Taekwondo Federation, has to his credit a string of national records.

He represented India four times in the world taekwondo championships and won gold medals in an invitational international taekwondo championship in New Delhi in 1993.

Israel’s eyes light up when he recollects the fight against Paul German, a three-time world champion from Canada, in the tenth world taekwondo championship.

“I did not know I was set up against my idol (Paul German) and that, too, in the opener. I was mesmerised. The fight was one of my best and the crowd rushed to the ring. In the first round, I knocked him down thrice but in the second he knocked me twice. I lost by a narrow margin, but was applauded and congratulated by everyone who witnessed the match. It was, indeed, my best fight,” he said.