Tongaat resident, Riya Govender, made her presence felt at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World Combat Games, which took place in Turkey at the end of September.
Representing the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Govender was among some of the strongest competitors in karate, boxing, muaythai, sambo, wrestling and wushu. A total of 119 universities from 26 countries took part in the games. The 1st Dan black belt karateka said: “For me, karate is more than simply a sport, it is a way of life. It continues to play a significant role in who I am today. I believe everyone should learn and practice karate, as a means of self-defence and because it also can help people discover more about themselves. Personally, karate challenges me both physically and mentally, and it has allowed me to develop as an individual.” Before heading to Turkey, Govender also participated in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) National Championships in July, held in Pretoria, and placed second in the U68kg female kumite division. Having kick-started her martial arts career at an early age, Govender said she was eager to learn more about this sport.
She said it was crucial to train both at the dojo and at home in order to get ready for the tournaments. “The level of competition was exceptional and I feel incredibly privileged to have had the opportunity to fight against such skilled and experienced athletes. I have learnt a lot from this experience as a whole, more specifically, it has broadened my understanding of sport karate and what is expected at an international level,” said Govender. She also expressed her gratitude to Hanshi Sonny Pillay for his encouragement and support throughout the years. “I want to thank my sensei and mentor, Shihan Brando Pillay, who constantly inspires me to improve and develop both as a karateka and as an individual and I want to thank the managers and officials at USSA Karate for making this incredible experience possible,” she said.
