27-year-old Pooja Harsha became the first South-Indian woman to become the National Coach of Kickboxing.

With this achievement, she is the first woman in South India to get qualified as a national coach in ring sport. She sealed the position in the recently held WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organisation) India National Kickboxing Training Camp – 2017 held at Sports Complex, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana. There were more than 200 coaches who took part in the camp, and from entire South India, Pooja Harsha was anointed with the certification to teach any kickboxing team throughout India. We contacted Pooja to discuss her to-do list as a new coach and her life off-duty.

What was your inspiration to choose the path less trodden?

I started kickboxing in 2010, before that I was into kick karate. My inspiration is my dad, Hari Das. When I was seven he would walk with me for 2 km to take me to the classes. He never told me to hinder my aspirations just because I was a girl. I was growing up with confidence to never back away because if a man can do it then I certainly can.

Even after marriage, my husband Harsha Shankar always spurred me to jump back in the field, there were never any restrictions. In 2010, I professionally involved in kickboxing. Because of WAKO, kickboxing provides a wide range of opportunities. I had taken a four-year-long hiatus in between to care for my daughter. When I became an International Referee and had to leave for a tournament, my husband was the perfect father. My husband’s support and my father’s motivation delivered the breakthrough kick in my career.

She is also the first woman in South India to be selected as an International Referee/Judge in Ring Sports who introduced kickboxing in schools under WAKO.

Looks like you have quite a sports background!

I surely do! My dad was an ardent fan of martial arts. We used to enjoy watching together the martial art movies. I grew up watching Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. He was the one to sow the seed of my love for karate and always motivated me no matter what. Even my brother is a black belt, and Harsha is the founder of Academy Of Self Defense and is an Asian Bronze medalist. He has been training over 3600 fighters from over 10 schools.

Pooja is also the first woman in Karnataka to be awarded with Black Belt Second Degree in K1 style under WAKO.

You both are like the star couple!

Haha! My husband has been my coach and was the one to introduce me to kickboxing in 2010. And before you ask me, yes I knew him before that (gosh, she is intuitive) Actually he was my childhood friend and my senior in the Karate classes.

You have been trained by coaches from Italy and Russia for the National Coach training camp, did you find any decisive differences in their teaching methods compared to that of Indian trainers?

No doubt, they are more experienced, now you would ask why that observation? And that’s because in India apart from cricket there is rarely any sports that is celebrated as much. The attention, the resources that are needed, are not duly provided. In other countries that’s so not the case and in my opinion that’s sad. We have the skills and the talent to shine but not the needed resources to ease our way.

I agree. The partiality to other sports is starkly visible. Do you face the same treatment?

Sadly, yes. Every year we organize tournaments and championships, and we realize how easily cricket tournaments find sponsors. But when it comes to kickboxing they will think twice, which makes us realize that we don’t share the same level of importance as cricket does.

Same things is with the sports kits which we won’t receive when we need it. We get refunds after we had purchased the kit with our funds that too after we submit the certificates. No facilities, no travelling aid. Every sports holds in itself the power to bring glory to India and many already have- this is something which should be taken into account.

Was the path from being the karate champion to being the National Coach for Kickboxing a challenging journey?

WAKO is a wonderfully supportive federation and I can confidently say that bad experiences or hurdles were never a part of my life. They were never partial on the account of the gender rather they motivated everyone to give their best. It is also because of the unrelenting support my husband provides, he is always there to guide me.

You mentioned that it was for your daughter’s sake that you chose not to attend International tournaments. Did you ever regret the decision afterwards?

Never. She was very young at the time. Now she is four and I am soon going to introduce her to basic kickboxing. We are planning on making her the youngest fighter! (she adds laughing)

With both her parents being awesome kickboxers, she has got some of the best coaches to herself! What is your fitness regime?

Right now I am cutting on my weight as after I got married, I took this long break of close to 4 years. And after giving birth to my daughter, I gained a lot of weight. I am rigorously exercising but I have a long way to go to attain a fit, healthy stature. That’s the only reason for not participating in the World Championships this time. I dream to represent India in WAKO World Championship and to win Gold for my country and to become a “World Champion.”

The title of being a National Coach provides you an immense platform that you can use to bring about many revolutionary changes.

Right now I am training 3600 fighters along with Harsha, and now my main motto is the Government Schools who can’t afford high class training classes and the kids there miss out on honing their skills. I want to train all the girls who desire to excel in the field of kickboxing for free, which I have just recently put into action. I wish to cover every government school in Karnataka one-by-one.

But what problem I am facing is  unsupportive families of the girls who may initially allow them to practice but tend to stop it as soon as the prospect of them participating in a championship crops up. And many think that kickboxing is a ‘manly’ sport. I try my hardest to make them understand that their girls deserve the same opportunities in life. But they will only grasp the truth when it is felt in their own heart.