Cuttack: Women and children of Silver City can now fulfil their wish to learn self-defence training as a taekwondo academy has been opened on the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) Club premises at Barabati Stadium here.
At present, around 15 women are undergoing self-defence training at the recently inaugurated SN Taekwondo Academy, which has been recognised as an affiliate of Odisha Taekwondo Association, sources said.
The academy, inaugurated January 3, is now functioning under the guidance of internationally acclaimed athlete and referee Sudipta Nanda.
“Now, we are imparting taekwondo skills to children for five days a week and providing training to their mothers on the remaining days,” said a source in the academy.
Stating that imparting self-defence training to women was his long-cherished dream, Nanda said, “The academy is new to Odisha. Even one cannot find such kind of an academy in India. We had planned to open the academy after consulting Odisha Taekwondo Association.”
“We hope that more number of women would join the academy to learn self-defence techniques,” he added.
Women who have enrolled themselves to the academy said they are learning taekwondo to prepare themselves to face any kind of eventuality.
“I was very much associated with sports during my student days. But, I was cut off from sports after my marriage. Now, I am learning taekwondo to keep myself fit and secure,” said B Bijaylaxmi, a trainee of the academy.
Sangita Sahu, another trainee, also stressed the importance of self-defence training in the present world. “I was attracted towards taekwondo while admitting my son to the academy. Others are welcome to learn taekwondo as a self defence technique,” she said.