Taekwondo Girl: Soni Khadka (Story of Transformation 26)

It's a mere coincidence that when I am writing this story, the theater near our place is flocked with audience for 'Dangal', a Bollywood movie, with the story of a wrestler father training his young daughters to become a world-class wrestlers. So let me clarify, this story is not the outcome of an inspiration from the movie, rather a strong desire to find a female who belittles the norms of patriarchal society which thinks females are best when they are submissive and shy and are beautiful only when they are cladded with nurturing feminine gesture.

Soni in action

I recently got acquainted with Soni Khadka, a Nepalese ITF Taekwon-Do player. Our few minutes talk inspired me to know more about her and her journey on this game; the game well known for its kick, jumps and grappling techniques. Well, obviously the game more associated with the strength and have the high probability of breaking bones if gone wrong. Thus, has the high chances of not being the game of first choice because of its physicality and risks. However, Soni, only at the age of 20 when she has already been selected as the “National Player” and also a trainer for school children, definitely must have started playing it at a much younger age. Thus, I was curious to know actually what prodded her towards the game.

After her regional selection 

Soni’s taekwon-do story started at age 12. As a child she was always teased by boys for her dark complexion and plump body. She wished taking revenge with them. Being raised in the family which had seven daughters, she always felt the desire of being son for her parents. One day, she made a random decision to join the taekwon-do training at school. She wasn’t serious about it but her coach definitely was. He motivated her towards it. She took the training as she could threaten the boys with her taekwon-do skills. However, she still wasn’t sure about continuing it. Then, she got an opportunity to participate in the district level championship and surprisingly won the gold medal and that changed her life. Why wouldn’t it, after all, it’s a huge achievement for a 14 year. “After that event, I bought a proper dress for my training as for two years I used to do the training on skirt which was really uncomfortable. I thought I need to focus now onwards.”, reminisces Soni.

After the 5th South Asian Game, 2015

Eight years of hard work and finally the entry in National game, Soni has really worked hard.  “Whatever I am now, the credits of my success goes to terribly hard training and my coaches”, shares Soni. Even before the sun would kiss the Himalayas with its golden rays, Soni would always be on a marathon to Pashupatinath from Bhaktapur, then another set of training during the day after her school and also the last one when the sun would bid good bye. Soni repeated her gold medal heroics in 2nd South Asian Game, and again, in the 5th South Asian Game.

The girl from Bhaktapur had never ever imagined of wearing a gold medal when she started her journey as a player and now she wishes to wear an Olympic gold medal around her neck someday. The conditions are that this reality sounds like a fiction but she is determinant that the reality will mirror fiction. Though she could just win the bronze in the recently held National Game, she isn’t disappointed rather determinant to work harder for the gold as she says, “When gold medals are around my neck, I feel like I am at the top of the world and I can do anything to make them mine.”

Women’s sports are on the rise, but one can go far only when one is determinant to take the risks opines Soni. She shares, “Taekwondo is not just the physical game rather a mental game as well. What we need is the strength to handle all the troubles that comes on our journey and the determination to continue it in whatever situation. I remember those days when I used to lose all the games and also had to fight with parents for the trainings. Different social issues arise, especially for women; we are judged for coming home late, even our relationships with our coach are misinterpreted but we need to be strong.”

The government hasn’t provided proper support to the players which makes the life of athletes hard. At the same time, females face added social and family pressure to leave a sport that is seen as overly aggressive and masculine. Amid all these, Soni is gritty when it comes to taekwon-do.

“Choosing to do taekwon-do was the best decision in my life. Though, I started it to prove myself as a son but when I have made my journey so far, I feel it's not about proving rather about becoming and finding self", she shares. 

“I am me because of taekwon-do. It’s my identity. I will never drop out because I won’t be me the day I drop out from the game", shares Soni with strong determination.

All in all, what I can say is this girl is made up of courage, determination, toughness, talent, guts and sacrifice and I am sure, her strength will definitely lead her to success.