Harshini Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Mar 8: As the world celebrates International Women's Day, here is a woman from Udupi who has carved a niche for herself in the field of martial arts and won name and fame internationally, becoming a role model for women, and indeed, for all.
International karate player Mranali Sachin Shetty is famously known as the 'Golden Lady' of karate for having bagged a whopping 150 gold medals in her career.
Daughter of Vishwanath Shetty and Nalini, Mranali hails from Mundkur. She is being trained by karate coach Satish Poojary from Belman for the past 21 years.
Honoured with the Rajyotsava Award in 2018, she has 150 gold, 80 silver and more than 75 bronze medals to her credit.
Mranali has been imparting her knowledge and karate skills as an instructor in different educational institutions in Karkala, Mundkur, Shirva and Belman since the last 7 years. She has also been teaching self-defense skills to high school students for the last four years.
"When the day comes where women get recognition in all fields, we can celebrate women's day," Mranali tells Daijiworld.
Speaking about her passion for karate, she says she was always interested in extracurricular activities rather than academics during her childhood. "As Mundkur is a rural village, there were not many activities. Luckily, karate was introduced in my school when I was 12 years old. My mother used to always support my activities. Satish Poojary Belman is the karate teacher of the school and I have been learning under him for the past 21 years," she says.
After completing her postgraduation, Mranali quit her job and opted to teach karate. "I dedicated myself to karate. I also do bike stunts. I believe that practice makes one perfect. We need practice and confidence to learn karate. I am very happy about my profession," she says.
Mranali is a black belt and is trained in Kata, Kumite. She also participated in international-level Kubudo Budocon karate when it was held in Dubai in 2012 and 2016. She won a gold medal, a silver medal and also the grand championship in women's category in 2016.
In 2017, she participated in international karate competition held in Malyasia, where she won a gold, a silver and a bronze. In Hyderabad, she bagged a gold medal and a silver and also women’s grand championship.
She is an active NCC cadet and has participated in three sainik camps and also national level competitions.
She is not only a karate master but also a stunt master. She mesmerizes people with her amazing bike stunts. She can also break bricks with her head. She credits her family, especially husband Sachin Shetty for his encouragement for supporting her in achieving her goals.