r : NAGPUR’S young karateka Arya Panpaliya brought immense pride to the city and India by winning abronze medal in the Under-14 girls individual kumite (-47 kg) category at the prestigious 3rd Asian Youth Camp and Championship (AYCC)–2026, held at the Sports Centre Gymnasium, Linping District, Hangzhou, China. Arya showcased exceptional courage,determination and technical excellence throughout the championship.She reached the semi-final after an outstanding performance against topinternational competitors. In the semi-final, she foughtvaliantlybeforenarrowly losing 4–1 to Wong Chi Chang ofMacau, therebysecuring the bronzemedal for India. This remarkable achievement has brought great honour to Nagpur,Maharashtra, and the entirenation, highlighting the growingstrengthof Indiankarateon theAsianstage.

 

The Indian contingent from MOD The Fight andFitness Dojo,Dharampeth, affiliated with MITSUYA-KAI Hayashiha Shito-Ryu Karate-Do India, comprised fivetalented karatekasSaanaBhusari,Aashvi Mohota, Arya Panpaliya, ShivankMendiratta alongwith Shihan Emanuel Philip,the team coach. Arya dedicated her medal to Hanshi Bharat Sharma, President, Karate India Organisation (KIO), President, South Asian Karate Federation (SAKF),andExecutiveMember, AsianKarateFederation (AKF), ShihanSanjeevJangda,General Secretary, Karate India Organisation, Shihan Mutum BankimSingh,Treasurer,Karate India Organisation, Hanshi Dr Zakir SKhan, Chief Coach, President, Karate-Do Association of Nagpur District (KAND), Technical Director, MITSUYA-KAI Hayashi-ha Shito-RyuKarate-DoIndia,and Deputy Director of Physical Education and Sports, Anjuman College of Engineering andTechnology, Shihan Emanuel Philip and Sensei Sachin Lohakare, General Secretary, Karate-Do Association of Nagpur District (KAND).