Coming from the Hazara Community in Quetta, Kalsoom has been learning Karate since she was in grade three. Speaking to “The Nation” she said: “I was just one year old when my parents died. My brother-in-law Shaheed Sarwar Ali became my guardian.”
Shaheed Sarwar Ali was a karate champion and trainer. Kalsoom said: “When he saw that I was interested in karate, he encouraged me and started training me. But, unfortunately, he was killed in 2006 in Quetta. I then determined to follow his dream, so that is why I am here where I stand.”
She is the only female player in the Pakistan karate team, who has a hat-trick in winning three gold medals in three competitions. She recently won three gold medals in South Asian Karate Championship in Sri Lanka. She also won three gold medals in national games in Lahore. She was given the State Level Excellence Award by Pakistan Army in Balochistan.
“I am a champion for the past 15 years in the weight category. After my teacher died, I got training from Pakistan Sports Board in Lahore and Islamabad,” said Kalsoom.
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