Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Dec 04: A 16-year-old girl from Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district has made the entire nation proud at the national stage by winning more than 60 medals in the martial arts category.
Rutba Showkat has been practicing Pencak Silat, a traditional Indonesian martial art, for the past eight years and has excelled in the sport, achieving remarkable success.
Rutba’s journey in martial arts began with a desire to pursue something different from her friends. Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), she said, “I wanted to do something different from other girls as my taste was different from the very beginning.”
Her dedication and passion for the sport have led her to numerous victories, including a national-level gold medal. Rutba’s achievements have not only brought her recognition but have also inspired other young girls in Srinagar. “Give your best, and don’t break your parents’ trust, don’t let anyone’s words stop you,” she said.
Rutba’s family, initially hesitant about her choice, has become her strongest support system. “Firstly, they were afraid and didn’t support me that much, but after a short time, my father, mother and elder sister, even my younger brother, supported me a lot,” she added.
Despite facing criticism from some relatives, Rutba has silenced their doubts with her remarkable achievements. “So many of my relatives used to say you are a girl; this all is not good for you. This will result in disrespect for our family. But now I have shut their mouths with my achievements and success,” said Rutba.
As an artist and calligrapher, she has won numerous awards and even secured a place in the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records, and her artistic talents have added another dimension to her impressive portfolio.
Her achievements include: 2022 Femina Award organized by OPUS talent awards, titled with miss little champ, Magic Book of Record 2023 Best Achievers Awards, Bhartiya Ekta Samman In 2022, Achievers Awardee In 2023, Emerging Personality Award In 2023, First Position In Art Awarded By LT Governor, India Book Of Records 2021, Asia Book Of Records 2021, Athlete Of Martial Arts From 2016, With 8 Years Of Experience, National Achievers Awards 2023, Organised By Social Point Of India, India Proud Book Of Records 2023, Tittled With Best Achievers Award and National Pride Awards 2023, Organised By Social Point Of India. “Beside this, I am also an official plus referee of Kunbokat and Pencak Silat,” she added.
While acknowledging the government’s efforts in promoting sports, Rutba believes there’s still room for improvement, as she added, “The government is doing a great job, but still needs improvement.”—(KNO)
