The fighter: A dream that will never end

Life for the blind karate master has not been easy but he has learnt not to give up.

ISLAMABAD: Asad Rauf, a visually-impaired black belt holder in karate, dreams to open up a martial arts institute for the disabled. “I want to start an academy to train disabled persons in martial arts,” he said while talking to The Express Tribune.

But lest this dream be considered a fleeting fantasy, Rauf acknowledges that the road ahead will not be easy. The 27-year-old resident of Rawalpindi has become used to it. He still remembers how he went to sleep one night in 1997 and woke up blind. The initial shock soon gave way to denial and denial to acceptance.

But instead of being pulled down by his disability, Rauf – 14-year-old at the time – decided to make the best of what he had. He kept on working hard on his martial arts’ training and received a black belt in karate in 1999. He did not give up on his studies either and got his intermediate certification in the same year.

He now volunteers for training disabled students in martial arts and judo at various organisations in the city. He also participates in various national events and even went to Malaysia in 2006, where he was recognised for his performance in Race and Javelin Throw events.

In his interview, he appealed to the government to appoint him as a physical instructor at a special education institute, so that he could earn his livelihood and live a normal life. “I deserve the post because I am a champion in karate and the 2 per cent quota [for the disabled people also] applies to me,” he said.

On the side, Rauf said, he will continue to nurture his dream of opening up his own institute. But that dream will have to wait for now, because he first needs to get “special training” in kick boxing from abroad, which he cannot yet afford.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2010.