Nairobi: 7-Year-Old Girl Finds Passion In Taekwondo After Mistreatment Incident, Earns Yellow Belt

• Nailah Ciiru's outlook on martial arts changed when a schoolmate mistreated her
• The seven-year-old decided to learn taekwondo to boost her confidence and for self-defence
• She currently holds a yellow belt and is working towards earning her black belt

Ciiru Nailah, a seven-year-old Year 2 pupil at Noble Gate International School, recently achieved her yellow belt in taekwondo, a significant milestone in her journey towards mastering martial arts.

In an interview with TUKO.co.ke, Ciiru's mother, Jedidah Nyambura, shared how her daughter decided to take up taekwondo.

She disclosed that Ciiru's interest began after a troubling experience with bullying at school, which led her to seek ways to empower herself through self-defence.

"After she came home and shared that she had been bullied by a boy, we both explored self-defence options together," Nyambura explained.

Through their research, taekwondo emerged as the best option, offering a combination of discipline, confidence-building, and self-defence.

Nyambura says the idea resonated with her because it provided a way to feel empowered and prepared to handle similar situations in the future.

Nambura proud of daughter's achievements

Now proudly wearing her yellow belt, Ciiru has set her sights on an even bigger goal: earning her black belt and eventually teaching taekwondo.

As a mother, Nyambura expressed immense pride in her daughter's commitment and growth through the sport.

"It’s inspiring to see her dedication and discipline at such a young age. Taekwondo teaches her valuable life skills such as resilience, respect, and confidence, which are essential as she grows," she said.

While acknowledging the natural concerns over safety and competition pressures, Nyambura is grateful for the positive influence the sport has had on her daughter.

For Ciiru, taekwondo is more than just a sport—it's a way to build confidence and stand tall against life's challenges.

Kericho girl who ran 3000m race barefoot awarded running gear

Another young sportsperson, Mercy Chepngeno, was given a complete set of running gear and financial assistance towards her education.

The generous gesture followed her remarkable performance in the 3000m steeplechase event at the Rift Valley Secondary Schools Sports.

Starting from the sixth position, the student at Lesirwo Secondary School showcased exceptional grit and determination, gradually propelling herself to third place.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke