Gurnoor Kaur, aged eight, has become the youngest holder of a Taekwondo black belt in the Jammu and Kashmir region, marking a significant achievement in her sporting career.

The young athlete expressed her happiness over the accomplishment and attributed her success to years of consistent practice and dedication.

"I am delighted with this achievement… I have been practising for 4 years… I want to become a national player and bring a gold medal for the country," Gurnoor said.

Her coach, Zaira Bukhari, described the feat as a proud moment for both the district and the entire Union Territory. Bukhari emphasised Gurnoor's discipline and perseverance over the past four years and called her an inspiration for other young girls.

"It is a proud moment for the district as well as the entire Union Territory that Gurnoor Kaur became the youngest black belt holder of J&K UT. She has been working hard for 4 years, and it is an inspiration for other girls as well," Bukhari said.

The coach also expressed confidence in Gurnoor's future potential, stating that with continued dedication, she could represent India internationally.

"With this pace, she will definitely become an international player and represent India on a global level one day," he added.

In February, the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) approved customised international exposure and coaching support for Taekwondo and Karate athletes in preparation for the Asian Games 2026. This initiative aims to strengthen India's combat sports pipeline.

In Taekwondo, Rodali Barua received backing to participate in five international competitions in 2026: Bulgaria Open, Slovenia Open, Dutch Open, Oceania Championships, all G2 level tournaments recognised by the World Taekwondo Federation, and the fourth Mount Everest International Open Taekwondo Championship in Nepal, classified as a G1-level tournament.