Much decorated athlete aims high

MIXED martial artist Rudhra Poorun has a trophy cabinet that is overflowing with colourful medals and trophies he has collected at various levels for wrestling, kickboxing and taekwondo over the years.

This talented youngster who is currently in grade 3 at St Catherine’s School has made the South African team twice for kickboxing.

But this 9-year-old also participates in cricket, hockey and soccer and is academically inclined.

‘I played for the U9A team for all three sporting codes this year and would love to be a heart surgeon one day,’ said Rudhra.

Rudhra joined the Paul Caves Kickboxing Club in Empangeni in 2013 and has participated in the Master Wests Destiny Championships since 2015.

He collected two gold medals, one silver and a bronze at these prestigious championships in 2015.

He then qualified for the National team and went to the World Championships in America in 2016, where he bagged a gold medal for points sparring, a bronze for clash sparring and continuous fighting and a fourth place finish for forms.

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This year he picked up a gold medal for kata, silver for points sparring and creative form and a bronze medal for continuous fighting at the Master Wests Destiny Championships held in Cape Town and therefore qualified for the SA team that will compete in the World Championships in Orlando.

‘I started wrestling at the beginning of this year at the Richards Bay Wrestling Club and got a gold and silver medal at the KZN wrestling championships held in the Bay.’

Rudhra has a mighty busy schedule outside of school hours, where he trains four times a week, for an hour per session with some days having double training sessions.

He signed up with the Megaforce Black Belt Academy in Empangeni in 2011.

Since then he has achieved many awards on a national stage.

His recent achievements include a gold medal for kata, silver for forms, bronze for stick fighting and a fourth place finish for points sparring at the recent 2017 Master Wests Destiny Championships held at Coetzenburg Sports Centre in Stellenbosch.

In his spare time, Rudhra enjoys skateboarding and hanging out with friends.

His main goal is to achieve his Protea colours in kickboxing and taekwondo.