Latest news with #NamrataBatra
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Wushu fighter Namrata Batra battles family resistance to make history
Namrata Batra (SAI) New Delhi: Indian wushu athlete Namrata Batra exemplifies the story of a small town girl with aspirations who fights adversities to achieve success on the international stage. Born in Indore in a conservative family, Namrata wanted to pursue martial arts but was opposed by her grandparents. They were concerned about perceptions related to the attire — wearing sleeveless vests and matching shorts — during training and competitions. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! However, her businessman father Sanjay Batra provided unwavering support, ensuring that societal pressure did not impede her ambitions to represent the country and win medals. On Tuesday earlier this week, the 24year-old became the first Indian ever to win a World Games medal in wushu, finishing runner-up in the women's sanda 52kg event in Chengdu, China. India have won a total of seven medals in different editions of the World Games – one gold, two silver and four bronze – but Namrata's wushu medal was a first in the quadrennial multisport event's 44-year-long history. Today, Namrata's grandparents feel immensely proud as they see her medal winning photos in the country's newspapers and websites. Poll What do you think has the biggest impact on an athlete's success? Support from family Personal determination Access to training facilities Societal acceptance 'I come from a big joint family. My grandparents earlier didn't like theh fact that I had to wear shorts and t-shirts to pursue myu dreams. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo They initially put a lot of restrictions and didn't even allow me to venture out alone for training and competition purposes. They were like what would the society say. For them, it was all about studying, getting good grades and looking for a settled job. But my father was always supportive of my career choices. He stood by me like a rock and backed my decision to become a martial arts player. Today, my grandparents and the same set of people who discouraged me, feel proud about my achievements. They fully support my journey,' Namrata told TOI after returning from Chengdu. Namrata boasts of an impressive CV. She is one of the country's leading female wushu (sanda) athletes with several domestic and international medals to her name. Wushu, a Chinese martial art, is categorised into two disciplines: Taolu (forms) and Sanda (sparring). Taolu involves choreographed routines with empty hands or weapons, while Sanda is a full-contact combat sport. Apart from the historic silver at the World Games, she finished second at the Asian championships last year, won bronze at the Asia Cup earlier this year, a gold medal at the Moscow Wushu Star championships and had podium finishes at the Uttarakhand and Gujarat editions of the National Games. She was the junior national champion from 2015 to 2018 and continued her success as a senior, winning gold medals from 2018 to 2021 in the 48kg division before moving to the 52kg category in 2022. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Canada News.Net
2 days ago
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Foreign athletes embrace culture, innovation at Chengdu World Games
CHENGDU, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- During the ongoing 12th World Games, held in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, foreign athletes are immersing themselves in Chinese culture and the vibrant atmosphere of the city. "I want to see the giant panda and also learn more about local culture," said Indian wushu sanda player Namrata Batra. Batra has been practicing wushu since 2015 and is now exploring the cultural roots behind the sport. "I have heard that Sichuan's Qingcheng Mountain area is famous for wushu, and I hope to get the chance to learn more moves there," she said. In the women's 52-kilogram wushu sanda event, Batra won a silver medal, marking India's first-ever podium finish in wushu at the Chengdu World Games. "The level of wushu across the world is improving, and the competition is becoming increasingly close," said Zhang Yuping, secretary-general of the International Wushu Federation. "This shows that wushu has entered a new stage, with more people around the world taking part." Beyond competition, foreign athletes are taking part in cultural experiences such as Sichuan Opera face-changing, sugar painting and Chinese calligraphy. "I love Chinese dishes, especially Sichuan food. They are super delicious," said Jose Perurena, president of the International World Games Association. Chengdu's modern development has also left an impression. "I could really feel the city's energy while walking through the bustling Chunxi Road commercial district and Taikoo Li," said Ida May Hudson, a member of Canada's national floorball team. She and her teammates arrived early, visiting exhibitions, attending fairs, and trying on hanfu, traditional Chinese clothing. The World Games is not only a major sports event but also a platform for international exchanges, according to Yin Jian, director of Chengdu's municipal center for promoting opening-up and cooperation. "Chengdu is fully showcasing its openness and vitality through this international event," Yin said. To facilitate travel and spending for visitors, Chengdu has enabled 65,000 merchants to accept foreign card payments and now supports 21 international e-wallets for seamless transactions. Chengdu also hosts 427 stores with tax refund services, including 103 that offer instant tax refunds. Additionally, foreign bank cards can now be used directly on the city's buses and metro, while some tourist attractions, airports and metro hubs have provided multilingual guidance. Athletes have also been impressed by the technological innovation. During the Games, China-developed robots for patrolling, retail and delivery were deployed to support event services. "The use of these robots has enhanced the athletes' experience and created more opportunities for our products," said Zeng Qi, chief technology officer of Eventec, a Chengdu-based technology company. Another highlight is the smart glasses, which are capable of real-time translation in over 40 languages and have attracted widespread interest among athletes. "The Games provide an excellent platform for innovative companies like us, bringing in more opportunities for cross-border cooperation and international expansion," said Liu Yu of Sichuan INMO Technology Co., Ltd., the developer of the glasses.
