Sibling success

Sharp and strong in kata (form) and kumite (fight), sisters Zinatra and Mahzarine Bonesetter of Baroda won a total of seven medals at the 8th All Gujarat Shoto Kan Karate Championship. More than 600 boys and girls from Gujarat participated in various age groups at the meet in Baroda last November. Zinatra, aged seven, won golds in individual kata and kumite, as well as silver for team kumite and bronze in individual kumite. Mahzarine, who is 10, picked up golds in individual kata and team kumite and silver in individual kumite, as per their bio data.

Mahzarine (left) and Zinatra Bonesetter: keen karatekas of Baroda

On the basis of this performance, the sisters were selected for a seven-day national camp in January 2007 at the Andheri Sports Complex in Bombay, especially conducted to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Japan Karate Association of India. Further success followed in February ’07 at the 10th Vadodara District Interschool Karate Championship. Representing their school Convent of Jesus and Mary, Zinatra won three trophies while Mahzarine annexed two, in individual and team events.

Having started karate just a year-and-a-half ago, the siblings are coached by Senseis Rajnikant Salat and Mahesh Rawal. With support and encouragement from mother Hutoxi and father Dr Jarsis who runs a bonesetting clinic in Baroda, the sisters told Parsiana they practice hard and aspire to go far in karate.