UKZN Karate Duo Wins Silver at FISU Combat Games in Brazil
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) students Mr Dhruv Heeralal and Mr Sohail Ramruthan have won silver medals at the International University Sports Federation (Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire) World University Championship Combat Games in Brazil.
The achievement marks a historic first for a South African team at the tournament. Heeralal and Ramruthan represented the country in the Team Kata division and were the country’s only entrants in the category. The pair, both black belt (dan-grade) holders in semi-contact karate, delivered a strong performance to secure second place.
Heeralal, a Mechanical Engineering student and Ramruthan, who is studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting, said balancing academic work across different campuses required discipline and co-ordination.
“Balancing my studies with high-performance training was one of the biggest challenges of my life. Managing demanding coursework alongside a rigorous training schedule required discipline, careful time management and consistency. Like many student-athletes, I faced setbacks and obstacles along the way, but these experiences taught me resilience and perseverance,” said Heeralal.
“Representing my university and country while earning a silver medal at the World FISU Combat Games was a proud moment and a reminder that success is not always about having a perfect journey instead, it is about staying committed to your goals, learning from challenges, and continuing to move forward despite difficulties.”
Ramruthan said: “Winning a silver medal at the FISU Combat Games honestly means the world to me. Balancing training and studying was easily one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I had to treat both training and study blocks as non-negotiables. During test weeks, I had to cut out all distractions and even scale back my training to remain completely focused. In the end, standing on that podium proved that all the hard work and sacrifice paid off.’
The duo qualified for the FISU Games after winning gold at the University Sports South Africa (USSA) tournament in February, which secured their selection to the national squad.
Executive Director of the Corporate Relations Division at UKZN, Dr Normah Zondo, congratulated the students on their achievement, saying the result reflects both individual commitment and institutional support for student development.
“For Dhruv and Sohail to become the first South African duo to win a silver medal at the FISU Combat Games is an exceptional achievement. It reflects not only their dedication and talent, but also the spirit of excellence that defines UKZN. We are immensely proud of our students for representing both UKZN and South Africa with distinction on the international stage,” she said.
Zondo added that sport remains an important part of the University’s commitment to producing well-rounded graduates.
Words: Lungile Ngubelanga
Photograph: Supplied
