Tang Soo Do club member Tanita Ramburuth-Hurt is a Special Recognition finalist for the 2019 gsport Awards.
A member of Wits Tang Soo Do is one of the finalists for the 2019 gsport Awards, a national platform that annually honours South African women in sport.
Tang Soo Do is a karate-based Korean martial art.
Tanita Ramburuth-Hurt, an astrophysics masters student and Wits Student Representative Council member, was named as one of the three finalists in the Special Recognition category on Saturday, July 20.
Ramburuth-Hurt began practising the Korean martial art with Wits Tang Soo Do in 2015 as a way to defend herself.
The 25-year-old said she wanted to “get fit and strong and be able to express myself”.
She achieved her first-degree black belt in June and won three gold, two silver and one bronze medals in the World Martial Arts Games in 2016.
In 2018 she was awarded three gold and two silver medals at the Tang Soo Do World Championships in London.
Although she did not join the club with the intention of competing, Ramburuth-Hurt said, “I fell in love with the sport and the intensity of it.
It pushes your boundaries with every training.”
Ramburuth-Hurt’s coach, Master Gregory Hart, had praise for Ramburuth-Hurt.
“She is passionate about empowering people, particularly women, through the sport,” he said.
Founder of the awards Kass Naidoo, a sports commentator and media personality, told Wits Vuvuzela the awards seek to “reward contributions beyond the call of duty which are widely acknowledged to have made a positive impact for the good of South African women in sport.
“Tanita (Ramburuth-Hurt) was moved from the heavily contested Athlete of the Year category, as the judges felt she stood a better chance in the Special Recognition category,” said Naidoo.
Ramburuth-Hurt is joined in the category by Heilie Uys, a former javelin thrower, and Proteas wicket-keeper Tazmin Brits.
“For a young woman and student, this means that she (Ramburuth-Hurt) has an opportunity to elevate herself to the national recognition platform for women in sport,” said Naidoo.
“Hopefully she will use this momentum to power her sports brand forward.”
The 14th edition of gsport Awards winners will be announced on August 31.
FEATURED IMAGE: Nominee: Tanita Ramburuth-Hurt is selected as a finalist for the 2019 gsport Awards. Photo: Imaan Moosa
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