I am grateful to the government that they have recognised my work: Faisal Ali
KNB News Desk
Srinagar 26 January (KNB): Faisal Ali, an International Coach and Chairman of Ali Sports Academy who has been imparting martial arts training since very long to young ones at different branches of his academy across the valley, has been selected for the coveted Padma Shri award.
Work for which Ali has been selected to be conferred with Padma Shri this year has not been a walk in the park for Ali. But sheer perseverance and years of toil to first adept himself in the Kickboxing, and later taking the responsibility of planting the seeds of the sports in young ones, helping them to excel at it, has been the struggle in recognition of which Ali would be conferred with Padma Shri, a fourth highest civilian award in India.
Ali says his struggle to learn kickboxing started from the early years of his life when he took a liking to it. He said there was no one to teach kickboxing in his district Bandipora back then. He had to travel to Srinagar from Bandipora in North Kashmir to excel in kickboxing. Ali had faced several hurdles while pursuing his passion in terms of travelling long distances, and sometimes his friends and other acquaintances scoffed at his quest, which they considered a mere wastage of time.
With time, Ali proved his mettle and became an International Coach. He did not become complacent with his success but laid the foundation of Ali Sports Academy in Bandipora to teach kickboxing. Today, there are several branches of his academy throughout the valley, which are instrumental in realising the dreams of younger ones.
Ali’s passion for kickboxing has to some extent resulted in a revival of it in the valley while keeping in view the number of branches of his academy which train the players. Several kickboxing players from his academy have won Gold Medals and have taken part in World Championships.
To wean off the local youth from drugs and other social evils, Faisal Ali has been at the forefront of the movement and has conducted a number of programmes to make youth aware of the detrimental effects of drugs.
With a person like Ali, who has contributed a lot towards the betterment of youth and has been helping to fulfil dreams of younger players of the valley, the recognition of his work was sure to come.
After being selected for Padma Shri, Faisal Ali said it was a proud moment for him to be chosen for the award. “I am thankful to the government that they recognised my work and at the same time very grateful to the district administration Bandipora who always supported me through thick and thin,” said Ali. (KNB)