19-year-old Ayesha Noor battled epilepsy and poverty to become a karate champion
Ayesha Noor was born in a slum in Kolkata. Suffering from epileptic seizures, Ayesha was asked to leave school when she was just five. Only a year later, she decided to learn karate. Today, at the age of 19, Ayesha is an inspiration for many.
Ayesha is the winner of two gold medals at the national level and has brought home three gold medals from international events. She also trains girls in Kolkata in self-defence. "I become a sherni (tigress) when I teach karate," Ayesha told Huffington Post.
Ayesha's journey hasn't been an easy one. Her father passed away when she was just 13. Life has been difficult for the family of three that lives in a one-room house in a Kolkata slum. While her mother works as a tailor, her brother sells slippers to make a living.
Despite her inspirational triumphs in the international arena, Ayesha wants to teach karate to people across the world. Her coach and mentor MA Ali told Business Standard, "She is a completely different personality once she hits the ring and the fighter in her takes over."
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