How a suspension in Class V fuelled Sohail to a historic win

Sohail Khan made history in Bulgaria as he became the first Indian to reach the final of the Kudo World Cup, securing the silver medal, but his decade-long journey began in the most interesting way possible.

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Hailing from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sohail described himself as a notorious kid in school, which ultimately led to his being suspended in the fifth class. Upon his return from suspension, he was determined to change his image in front of those around him.

In an exclusive conversation, Sohail revealed his journey, why he chose Kudo as a discipline, and more.

"I was suspended from school in the fifth grade. I was a notorious student, never studied, and hardly played any sports. I used to notice that students who used to be good at sports were recognised in the assemblies. I saw it as an opportunity to change my image to a good boy. The school head coach, Mohammad Aijaz Khan, who is also my personal coach, suggested that I should start Karate, which is where my Martial Arts journey started before settling on Kudo," Sohail told.