Triumphant Valena Valentina returns; to take 2-yr break for studies

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Sep 17, 2013 at 12:32 PM

OST Sports Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 17:

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Promising woman karateka of Odisha Valena Valentina arrived here on Monday after her commendable performance at the just concluded 26th All India Karate Championship held at Talkatora stadium in New Delhi, where she won two gold medals in the women’s below 55kg category Kumite and kate events respectively.

Talking to newsmen after her arrival, she said she had taken permission from the Odisha State Karate Do Association to spend the next two years for her higher studies. She, however, said she would she would represent Odisha, her home state, from 2014 onwards.

In the kumite final, she defeated Saba Khan of Madhya Pradesh by 7-1 points. In the semi-final, she edged out Yamin of Rajasthan 8-0. Velena bagged the gold medal in the women’s kata event on the inaugural-day of the national meet. Sandhya Chandra of Madhya Pradesh received the silver medal in the event. A total of 32 players participated in the senior women’s kata event.

About her schedule, Valentina said, “On the basis of my performance in the national championship, I will represent my country in the Asian Karate Championship at Dubai in November this year. Besides, I have also been selected for the National Games to be held in February 2015”.