UKZN karate duo win SA’s first FISU Combat Games silver medal
As the country's only entrants in the team Kata category, the duo produced a standout performance to finish as runners-up in their division.
Two University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) students have made history after winning silver medals at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Championship Combat Games in Brazil.
The championships, which took place from June 8 to 13, featured athletes competing in combat sports including karate, jiu-jitsu, muay thai, wrestling and wushu.
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Dhruv Heeralal and Sohail Ramruthan returned to South Africa on Tuesday after helping secure South Africa’s first-ever silver medal in the team Kata division at the prestigious international event.
The pair were part of a 12-member South African team that competed at the championships.
As the country’s only entrants in the team Kata category, the two black belts produced a standout performance to finish as runners-up in their division.
Heeralal, a Mechanical Engineering student, and Ramruthan, who is studying towards a BCom in Accounting, said the achievement required significant commitment and sacrifice.
“We are both studying two different degrees on two different campuses, so attaining this medal called on a lot of dedication, hard work, and compromise in terms of our schedules for us to make time to practise,” Heeralal said.
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The duo qualified for the FISU Games after dominating the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Tournament in February, where they won gold and secured places in the national squad.
UKZN congratulated the students on their success, describing the achievement as a milestone for both the university and South African university sport.
Dr Normah Zondo, UKZN’s Executive Director of Corporate Relations, praised the pair for their performance on the world stage.
“For Dhruv and Sohail to become the first South African duo to win a silver medal at the FISU Combat Games is an exceptional achievement. It reflects not only their dedication and talent, but also the spirit of excellence that defines UKZN,” Zondo said.
Sport is an important part of the university’s commitment to developing well-rounded graduates and achievements such as these demonstrate what is possible when talent is supported by an environment that encourages students to pursue excellence in every sphere. As UKZN, we are immensely proud of our students for representing both UKZN and South Africa with distinction on the international stage.
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The silver-medal finish adds to UKZN’s growing reputation for producing student-athletes who excel both academically and in international competition.
