Chennai’s Vridhi Kumari is the one Indian girl to win a medal on the lately concluded IMMAF 2021, in Abu Dhabi
Within the cage, as she braced for the struggle, Vridhi Kumari may solely consider her mom’s phrases ‘Don’t hand over.’
The 21-year-old from Chennai threw her finest punches and kicks to win a bronze medal within the Atomweight Class (Seniors) on the lately concluded IMMAF (Worldwide Blended Martial Artwork Federation) World Championship 2021 at Palms Sports activities Area, Abu Dhabi. With this, she grew to become the primary Indian girl to win a medal for the nation on this class at IMMAF.
An elated Vridhi, on cellphone from the UAE, says, “It was my first worldwide struggle so I used to be very excited. The whole lot about it was totally different. Each my opponents have been extra skilled in worldwide fights and held titles. One was from Kazakhstan and the opposite from Eire. However, I had little question or concern as a result of we went with a strong sport plan.”
A complete of 400 athletes participated from 56 international locations. The Indian contingent was dominated by athletes from Tamil Nadu the place six of the 12 representatives have been from Fight Kinetics, headed by Ajit Sigamani. Other than Vridhi the opposite athletes are Ganesh Raj Srinivasan, Lenin Prakash S, Shabarish Ayyanar, Syed Abdul Nazzeur and Vijay Venkatesh. (After Tamil Nadu’s stellar efficiency within the earlier two Nationwide Championships, profitable a complete of 12 golds, Ajit was made coach of the Indian crew.)
Vridhi began studying MMA (Blended Martial Arts, full fight contact sport, also referred to as cage preventing. ) just some years in the past on the age of 19 in 2019. Now, a two-time nationwide champion, she says, “I hadn’t carried out any kind of martial arts earlier than I joined Fight Kinetics. I simply joined to study, not with the intention of getting into competitions.”
Whereas she could also be profitable medals together with her kicks and punches, Vridhi’s preliminary curiosity was in boxing. “I needed to field for self defence. As soon as I enrolled on the Fight Kinetics, I got here to learn about MMA, tried it and began loving it,” she says, including “There’s one thing fascinating to study on a regular basis.”
She provides, “It has helped me develop as an individual, improved my confidence and my life-style as effectively. I really feel more healthy now. Once we journey for competitions, we get to satisfy fighters from totally different nationalities who come from totally different cultures, which is once more a studying expertise.”
Speaking about her coaching and exercise routine, she says she started with 90 minutes a day. As soon as she determined to compete her coaching went as much as three hours a day. “Now it’s six to seven hours a day, six days per week.” Her coaching contains “weight coaching alongside calisthenics. To enhance different elements of efficiency we do working, sprinting and swimming.”
What ought to Vridhi’s opponents be frightened of within the ring: her kick or her punch? She giggles “I really feel my punch is extra highly effective since I’ve put in additional coaching in that. However my companions have informed me my kicks too are strong whereas sparring.”