Indian karateka Zaara Vasim Assadi emerged as the standout performer at the International Karate Open Championship held as part of the Muscat Night Festival, clinching four gold medals in a remarkable display of skill and consistency.
The prestigious tournament saw participation from around 400 athletes representing 24 clubs across multiple countries. Amid intense competition, Zaara, aged just 10, created history by becoming the only girl at the championship to secure gold in all four categories she competed in individual Kata, individual Kumite, team Kata, and team Kumite.
Zaara’s achievement adds to her already impressive record. She has remained undefeated in Kata since the age of five, underlining her long-standing dominance in the discipline. Her performances were widely praised for technical precision, discipline, and composure well beyond her age.
Training at The Champ Sports & Arts in Muscat, Zaara’s journey has become a source of inspiration for young martial artists, reinforcing the idea that dedication and passion can overcome age-related barriers in competitive sport.
The championship also served as a platform for cultural exchange, bringing together athletes and spectators from diverse backgrounds and celebrating the unifying spirit of karate.
Zaara Vasim Assadi is the daughter of Vasim Assadi and Hasra Sana and hails from Udupi. She is the granddaughter of Zikriya Assadi.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / February 02nd, 2026
The excellence awards ceremony and annual meet – 2025 of the Muslim Educational Institutions Federation (MEIF) of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, held at Barakah International School, Adyar Mangaluru, on May 22.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mohan Alva, chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation, Moodbidri, said, “Education institutions should not be limited to one community. Education institutions should not be confined to the community that founded them. Instead, schools should reflect a “mini-India” that transcends barriers of religion, caste, and ethnicity. Everyone should have access to education. An atmosphere must be created where all are included. Just as India is home to various castes, religions, languages, and ethnicities, schools too should represent this diversity and become a mini-India. Schools should be a reflection of society, imparting education that builds communities rather than dividing them”
Praising the achievements of MEIF, Dr Mohan Alva also promised assistance in providing scouts and guides training to students in MEIF schools.
MEIF honorary president Umar T K delivered a keynote address, and MEIF president Moosabbi P Bary presided over the event.
A booklet detailing the federation’s annual programmes for 2024-25 was unveiled by Y Abdulla Javed, director of Yenepoya Group.
President of the Baraka Group of Institutions Ashraf Bajpe and Unni Haji, , along with Bahrain Sinan Zakariya, were honored during the ceremony.
National trainer Rajendra Bhat also shared his thoughts.
The event also included a felicitation ceremony honoring students who achieved outstanding results in PUC and SSLC examinations.
Outstanding SSLC performers from MEIF schools who were felicitated include Sumaiyya Nuha (619), Dakshin S Salian (618), Nidha Khadeeja Noor (617).
PUC toppers honored include Prithvi Acharya (585), Ayesha (584), Ayesha Shamran (584), Farahath M A (591), Maheen Fathima (590), Ayesha Falak (563), Aleemath Sayida (556), and Nafia T N (556).
From MEIF SSLC Kodagu – Fizah V (618), MEIF SSLC Chikkamagaluru – Taheen Fathima (597), and Karnataka SSLC state topper Shagufta Anjum from Sirsi (625) were also felicitated with mementos and cash awards.
Vice president of the Presidency Group of Institutions Suhail Ahmed and president of the Manipal HPR Group of Institutions Hariprasad Rai, were present as chief guests and extended their best wishes.
MEIF East Zone vice president Mustafa Sullia welcomed the gathering. General secretary Riyaz Ahmed K B and secretary Mohammad Sharik announced the names of the award-winning students. Farvez Ali delivered the vote of thanks, and lecturer Abdul Razak Anantadi compered the event.
MEIF Kodagu chapter president K A Shadli, Chikkamagaluru chapter president Zameer Ahmed, vice president Shabih Ahmed Qazi, and treasurer Nisar Fakir Mohammad were also present on the occasion.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld / Home> Karnataka / by DaijiWorld Media Network – Udupi (TP) / May 23rd, 2025
Fouzia Tarannum started her preparation for UPSC in December 2010. She quit her job as a Business Analyst with Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. In CSE 2011, she cleared with AIR of 307, thereby joining the IRS (IT). The attempt in 2012 didn’t see any improvement in her rank/service.
Her preparation journey: Once posted she started feeling the difference in service – IAS and IRS. She felt that she should try one last time for her dream service and give one last attempt. A few weeks before 2014 prelims she jumped into preparation mode.
What made her successful this time? She reread the standard books, along with the sources available online. She feels that a big part of the improvement in rank to AIR 31 this year was due to her growth as a person, becoming more mature, having seen more of this world and a creeping sense of practicality and realism in approach, compared to an over-idealistic one earlier.
Her advice: She advises that UPSC is actually looking for more rounded personalities with problem solving approach and an analytical mind. The UPSC journey should be looked at in this light, and not merely reading of books.
How difficult it was to prepare with her job? She felt a deep sense of duty and responsibility towards her work that she doesn’t compromise on her present work while giving this attempt. She had to be more than justifying the salary that she was taking home.
Though it was tiring at times, but she made sure that at office, she would concentrate on work, and at home on preparation efforts.
How did she balance both? The balance came from management of time. There will never be enough time; rather we have to make time for everything. She took no leave before prelims, took 30 days leave before mains and 5 days leave for interview.
How did she plan her studies? She studied for atleast 2 hours a day, on working days – depending on her work day either early morning or late night – August to December 2014. She also managed to take a few Fridays off after the prelims results, so as to get 3 days of continuous studies.
She finished weekly newspapers that she piled up and studied for about 4 hours a day, on weekends and holidays.
How did she manage her different subjects? She focused on revising her strong areas (economy, geography, etc.) and re-prepared her weak areas (history, culture, sociology, etc.) along with preparing for the newly introduced topics.
She focused on current events and ensured that she remained updated with GS.
Optional Subjects: she chose Sociology as optional because it takes lesser time to prepare in comparison and enjoyed reading this subject, though she had never studied this subject academically.
Her tips for Ethics- GS Paper 4: She just read a few solved papers and looked up definitions on all the terms used in the syllabus and made short notes. She suggests that one must give true answers to most situational questions/case studies.
Did she practice writing answers? She says she couldn’t practise writing due to lack of time and also feels that if she had practised, she could have scored better.
Tips to write answers: She gave many examples in her answers, and tried to keep them interesting to whoever was to read them.
Time Management: There is a dire need for short, productive periods of reading through the day. For instance, she read the news feeds after returning from lunch at office, watched news/saved videos while travelling to and from office, etc. Such reading of 15 minutes in short bursts 4-5 times a day really adds up and contributes immensely to our efforts.
Whenever she felt low in her studies: She use to take up a subject that she liked and enjoyed when she would feel depressed. This really helps make our efforts more productive. She suggests one should be judicious in the time one allots to various “sub-subjects”.
Writing style: She feels short, to the point, bullet points, covering as many dimensions and aspects as possible is the best way to write answers. She didn’t focus much on word limits, for some answers she looked for more space and for some she just jotted down half a page. She suggests interlinking of topics and use of diagrams/charts. She also underlined important points while writing.
Her suggestion: A lot of resources are available online, one must have a look and settle for what works best and not waste time on internet unnecessarily.
Do not lose focus and never lose faith. Stay consistent in your efforts. Believe in yourself! Don’t forget to keep learning and to keep improving!
Though a certain amount of luck is required, hard work does pay!
” She says- “I have not studied in big “Ivy League” institutions, nor do I have any civil servants in my family. I come from a very simple, ordinary, loving household, where education has never been very important”.
source: http://www.civilsdaily.com / Civils Daily / by Root
M Manna Iqbal was on Monday reinstalled as the President of the Giants Group of Udupi for the year 2023, in a ceremony held at the Woodlands Hotel here in the city.
Dinkar K Amin, a Central Committee member of the Giants Welfare Foundation was present as the Chief Guest of the event while Vasudev Mahale, Unit Director of Federation 6 was the installation officer at the ceremony.
Former Federation President Jayarajprakash was the keynote speaker at the event while Dr. Junaida Sulthana, Academic Head, MET, Udyavara, Udupi, Tejeshwar Roa, Federation vice-president, and Lakshmikanth Beskoor, Federation coordinator were present as the guests of honor.
Four women – Dildar Akbar – Special Needs School, Udupi, Sushma Gopalkrishna – Police Inspector Udupi Women’s police station, Bindu Thankappan, Advocate, Shaila Amanna, Asha Nilaya, Udupi – were also felicitated for their outstanding services and selfless contribution towards the society.
The new committee of the Giants Group Udupi was also formed. Yashwant Salian and Vincent Saldana were appointed vice-presidents, Roshan Ballal. Director of Administration, Vadiraj, Joint Director of Administration, Ganesh Ural, Director of Finance, Dayanand Kalmady, Joint Director of Finance. Prabhakar Bangera, Liyaqath Ali, Vinay Kumar Poojary, Zeenath, Geetha Rao, and Diwakar Sanil took oath as Directors.
Roshan Ballal presented the annual report while Vivek Kamath proposed a vote of thanks and compered the event.
The event was followed by an Iftaar arrangement for the members and audience.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavalii / by Vartha Bharati / April 18th, 2023
23-year-old Aamna Kausar, an MSc Medical Anatomy student at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in Udupi has topped the university in the final year examinations.
Aamna, who is also the President of the district unit of the Girls Islamic Organization, scored 8.6 CGPA, the highest in this year’s examinations.
Daughter of Mohammad Iqbal, a businessman and Wajida Tabassum, a homemaker, the hijabi student wants to pursue a PhD in Human Anatomy.
She told The Cognate, “I am planning to do PhD next year on a topic related to human anatomy. Meanwhile, I will be working for a year.”
Aamna who has secured a job as a faculty to teach anatomy to medical students. However, she aims to get into the research field.
Notably, Aamna is a hijabi student from Udupi which was the hotbed of the hijab controversy a few months back.
“Being a hijab-wearing student in our university, I have seen difficult times during the controversy. I was actively participating in discourses surrounding the hijab row through GIO,” she said.
“The way hijabi students were treated in the district was really bad. But now, moments like these prove to them that education is the right of everyone and if students are given proper education, they will reach heights,” she added.
source: http://www.thecognate.com / The Cognate / Home> Education / by Rabia Shireen / September 26th, 2022
