Barun Kumar Sahu (right, in red cap) at the Senior National Kickboxing Championship in Angul. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, April 14: A teenager from Sambalpur district has won gold medal in the Senior National Kickboxing Championship held at Angul.

Barun kumar Sahu (19), a resident of Putibandh in Sambalpur district, won the gold medal defeating a kickboxer from Punjab in the senior light contact category final.

“I always wanted to be a kickboxer. The gold medal has instilled a lot of confidence in me. Now I am eyeing international events,” said Barun.

In the past, he had won a bronze medal in the East Zone championship and a gold medal in All-Orissa Kickboxing Championship in full contact category. “My parents have always encouraged me to cherish my dreams. I could attain this success only because of them and my coach Narayan Barik,” he said.

Barun’s father Kapilendra Sahu, a class IV employee of Sambalpur Municipality, was upbeat over the success of his son. “I jumped in joy when I learnt about his success. He has a dream to become a kickboxer and is giving his best for it,” Kapilendra said.

“I am feeling proud for his achievement, I will try to ensure that my financial condition does not become an impediment to his path,” he added.

However, Kapilendra deplored the government apathy towards kickboxing. “Government is not at all serious about this sport. There are so many talents in Orissa but they are not getting the platform to flaunt their skills,” he rued.

Sambalpur has bagged four medals in the National Championship. Mahesh Kumar Naik won silver in the 60kg senior full contact category, Jugnu Dehery bronze in 55kg senior full contact category and Rabi Chandra Sahu won a bronze in 61kg light contact category.

“We are yet to receive any kind of government support,”, said Narayan Barik, coach of Sambalpur Karate and Kickboxing School.

However, he expressed gratitude to members of Sambalpur Kala Parishad for their support and letting them use their place for practice.