At just nine years old, Adrina Silvio is proving that age is just a number when it comes to achieving your dream. With an incredible journey in the world of karate, she has already participated in more than 15 tournaments and secured an impressive 21 medals. From local tournaments to a huge international stage, Adrina’s story is one example of determination, discipline and an unbreakable fighting spirit.
A Journey Filled By Passion and Perseverance
Coming from India, Adrina’s journey in karate began when her parents noticed her fierce determination during her first tournament. According to her father, Silvio Christopher Arun
“That was the first time we saw her aggression and her aspirations to win the match, she was very determined to do the punchings, earn the points and win the game”.
Her mother, Annie Metilda, shared that karate was a conscious choice for Adrina’s achievements.
“One of the main reasons we chose karate for Adrina is because of her father. He has always wanted his daughter to grow up strong, confident, and independent. That’s why he believed self-defense was essential, especially for Adrina. He has been both a mentor and a backbone for Adrina, consistently supporting her every step of the way. Without his unwavering support, she wouldn’t have reached where she is today”.
Since then, Adrina has dedicated herself to non-stop training, balancing school and extracurricular activities with a strict training schedule. Her father describes how karate has brought discipline to her life, teaching her importance of obedience, perseverance and resilience.
“From waking up early to go for her karate class to obeying and observing the instructions of the Sensei’s and teachers, these are the important foundations she started to cultivate”.
Balancing karate with school and other activities at such a young age is not simple and easy. Adrina’s daily schedule is packed with school ending at 4.30 before she heads up straight to her Dojo class for training. Her mother plays a crucial role in ensuring everything runs smoothly.
“Her mother always prepares some snacks for her to feel energetic throughout the training. Then she goes back to the Dojo centres, she will try to be there for about an hour or two. It has been hard to balance both, whenever there are tournaments, especially the international ones. The number of hours she puts in the training is high because she participates in two types of category Kata and Kumite so she goes through 2 training sessions and normal training in Dojo”.
Challenges That Shaped A Champion
Adrina’s path to success has not been without it’s challenges. Competing in huge international tournaments requires immense long hours of training, dedication and personal sacrifices. Her parents each took on significant responsibilities, her mother accompanying her to countless Dojo classes and her father being her sparring partner at home.
“During the Indonesia tournament, besides Adrina’s hard work, her father played a significant role in her success. He dedicated his time and energy throughout her journey, even serving as her punching bag during daily training sessions at home.” said her mother.
One of the toughest challenges she faced was competing in the ‘Kumite’ (sparring) against older opponents.
“There were times when she came across hard beatings, even blacking out in tournaments. Even when she blacks out, Adrina always wakes up and never turns her back away from the tournament. She would take a rest outside and come back in with the same fighting spirit”, her father shared.
This resilience defines Adrina as an athlete, SHE NEVER BACKS DOWN.
When asked by Adrina what her toughest tournaments were, she said it was the Mayor’s Cup Tournament, where she lost a tooth after taking a strong punch from an opponent.
“I had to pull it out, but I still finished the match”.
Financial challenges also posed hurdles in her journey, coming from a foreign country, they did not have sponsorship support, which required them to put in their own personal funding. Even with hurdles in the way, Adrina’s family stood firmly by her side, ensuring she had every opportunity to show her talent on the global stage and fulfil her goals.
Moments Of Pride and Glory
For her parents, one of the most unforgettable moments was watching Adrina walk into the opening ceremony of an international tournament, surrounded by athletes from 38-60 countries, proudly with the wave of the Malaysian flag.
“Even before she got the bronze medal, that was the most cherishing moment. We, as parents, at that moment felt very proud”.
Despite her young age, Adrina has already made a name for herself, Her friends and even strangers recognize her as a champion.
“Many times, people come up to us and ask, ‘Are you Adrina’s parents?’ They don’t even know our names but they know her. That kind of support encourages her and makes her very happy’.
Aiming For The Olympics
When asked about her future aspirations, Adrina’s answer was clear and bold: she dreams of participating in the Olympics one day.
“I want to participate in the Olympics and make my parents proud”. This is not just Adrina’s dream but her parents too.
Her natural ability to bounce back from failures has shaped her into a fearless competitor. For Adrina, every tournament is a journey of growth rather than a competition. Her parents admire her ability to remain calm under pressure.
She has her natural ability to bounce back when she has failures so it never has been a problem to us, she is well prepared even in many tournaments. Sometimes we as parents are tense but she keeps her mind very cool. We usually just make sure she reaches there on time and has all her things needed for the tournament. She is very independent when it comes to preparations. In terms of failures she never sees anything as a failure she sees it as a journey.
The way Adrina is independent and bold at a very young age is something that deserves appreciation.
A Message To Parents
Adrina’s parents strongly believe in nurturing children’s passions. Her father’s advice to other parents is simple:
“If your children are interested in any sports, as parents, we should pursue their happiness. Encourage them, Guide Them and Place them in the right environment to grow”.
The Road Ahead
With multiple competitions she participated last year including the prestigious King Of Tatami International Battle and the 23rd MILO Open Karate Championship, Adrina shows no signs of slowing down. With her passion for karate, and the support of her family, each tournament and medal brings her closer to her Olympic dream.
Adrina’s journey is an inspiration to young athletes everywhere. She might be 9 years old, but her story proves that with passion, hard work, and unwavering support, you can always accomplish your dreams, no matter how young you are and how challenging the sport can be. With her talent, we believe Adrina will reach higher places and achieve more to make us proud!
Adrina’s Impressive Tournament Records
2022:
- Karate Tournament In Cyberjaya (In Kata and Kumite Category)
2023:
- 10th Shitroyu International (Bronze Medal)
- 12kk Gojukai (Two Bronze in Kata and Kumite)
- 3rd Utar Goshin-Ryu (Gold in Kata, Silver in Kumite)
- 3rd Interdojo Karate Championship (One Silver in Kumite)
2024: She Received 10 Medals
International:
- King Of Tatami International Battle
- 23rd MILO Open Karate Championship
State and National Level
- Kusano Ha Invitational Championship
- KSSD Merdeka Karate Tournament
- Goshin Ryu Karate Championship
- Selangor Open Karate Championship
- 13th KK Gojukai Selangor Karate Championship
- 3rd Johor President Cup Karate Championship
All Informations And Images Are Provided By Adrina’s Parents
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