All India rank 1 Kashish Malik is one of the brightest taekwondo talents in the country. She has already reached the quarter-finals of the Jakarta Asian Games and is currently training for the World Championships in April next year. In this exclusive interview with SPOGO, she spoke about being introduced to Taekwondo and pursuing the sport professionally, overcoming challenges, potential of the sport in India, future goals and more!
Q 1) When were you first introduced to Taekwondo? What motivated you to pursue the sport professionally?
I was introduced to this sport as an amateur athlete at the age of 14. Initially, nothing motivated me to pursue Taekwondo but I persisted with the sport and got involved so deeply by the time I was 16 years old that I began to pursue it professionally. Taekwondo is not well known in India so it is up to athletes like me to raise it’s profile. That’s one of my motivations to pursue the sport.
Q 2) What are some of the challenges that you have faced in pursuing Taekwondo professionally? How did you overcome them?
Challenges and failures are a part of life and when you are pursuing a combat sport which is not recognized in India, it becomes even more challenging. A taekwondo athlete is susceptible to injuries and in 2019, I had an ACL tear injury just two months before the World Championship. However, I continued my rehabilitation and training with specialized doctors and my coaches. It was a tough situation as my ligament was fully torn. To make matters worse my visa got cancelled when the tournament was approaching so it was a disheartening experience.
I had to undergo surgery and came back after four months of rehabilitation after which I went for selection trials for the South Asian Games where I won a gold medal. It was my passion that drove me towards my goals and made the impossible, possible. Initially, the doctors did not want me to participate and focus on recovery but I underwent a test for my knee strength after which I was given the green light by the doctors to compete. It’s always a risk when the recovery period is so short in such a physically demanding sport but I was always positive and won the gold medal.
Q 3) Who has been some of your biggest inspirations in your career so far and why?
If I’m being honest then nobody has been that kind of inspiration for me. I’m the kind of person who wants to be an inspiration for others and my mindset does not allow me to seek inspiration from an external source. However, my coach is an influential factor in my life as he is a world champion himself. I believe inspiration should come from within and drive you towards achieving your goals.
Q 4) How much potential do you see for Taekwondo in India? What must be done to exploit it?
India is a big country and has a large population. I believe that Indian athletes are hardworking and they have the potential to succeed, all they need is more experience in training camps and championships. However, financial reasons stop many athletes from achieving their potential and the media/governments should take the initiative to bring about a change so that more medals are won in taekwondo.
Q 5) How was the experience of reaching the quarter finals of the Jakarta Asian Games?
The experience of reaching the quarter-finals of the Jakarta Asian Games is unforgettable and will remain in my life forever. It proved to me that India is not weak in terms of potential and has the ability to achieve anything in this sport. Even though I lost in the quarter-finals against Korea to a World Championship gold medallist, I remained fearless throughout the clash and never felt intimidated. The Championship taught me many things.
Q 6) What are your goals for the future and how do you plan to achieve them?
I have both short and long term goals. My focus right now is the World Championship in April 2022. My coach has already set the training plan for the Championship and I’m determined to come back with a medal.
