Sport fuelled Nataniah’s journey to greater confidence

NATANIAH Naidu (17), a brown belt karateka from Ninfu ShitoRyu, is celebrating a significant milestone this year as the dojo marks its 50th anniversary.

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Recently, Nataniah from Merebank was selected to represent South Africa as a member of the Proteas team at the UFAK Region South Championships in Swakopmund, Namibia. At the competition, she earned a commendable third place in her division (kumite under 48kg), and she will receive her Protea Colours at the award ceremony on July 20.

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Reflecting on her journey, she said, “I started karate at a young age because I was shy and bullied at school. My parents believed that this sport would be instrumental in helping me overcome these challenges. Karate has become my passion and has shaped me into the person I am today – strong, confident and physically fit. I will continue my training to improve and aspire to one day compete in the Olympics or the World Championships.”

Nataniah expressed her gratitude to Shihan Craig and team Ninfu, saying, “All the advanced training and coaching have been vital in my journey.”

Nataniah, a learner at Merebank Secondary School, enjoys mathematics and life science and is considering a future in either architectural engineering or data science.

In addition to karate, she enjoys singing, drawing and spending time with her family. She occasionally showcases her singing talent at church and is thankful for the unwavering support of her family.

“I’m blessed to have my grandmother at every tournament and my brother Rylee, who is also a karateka and a KZN team athlete, as my number one supporter. He spends countless hours training and helping me,” she said.

Her father, Greg, who runs a fire protection company, expressed pride in Nataniah’s achievements, recognising the culmination of her hard work.

Her mother, Keroshnie, who also trained at Ninfu ShitoRyu in her younger years, said, “Enrolling my children in karate was the best decision. I am incredibly proud of Nataniah and all her accomplishments. She is a respectful, humble and hardworking child, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for her.”

She also extended her thanks to Shihan Craig, Renshi Brando Pillay and Sensei Njabulo Mthembu for their dedication and support in nurturing the youth of the community.

Shihan Craig Kisten Pillay of the Ninfu ShitoRyu dojo said, “Over the past 50 years, we have had numerous KZN and SA champions, but Nataniah is only the second karateka and the first female from our dojo to represent the country at an international event.”

“All her friends and instructors at the dojo are proud of her achievements. We hope she continues to excel in these prestigious events sanctioned by the World Karate Federation. Despite the tough competition from various African countries, Nataniah was well-prepared and secured a bronze medal after an intense battle. Although shy and soft-spoken, she transforms into a warrior in the ring and is a fearless fighter who has made us all proud,” he said.

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