Engineering meets karate as Dhruv Heeralal flies SA flag in Brazil

South African Head of Delegation Sensei Humbulani Mphuma and Dhruv Heeralal (right) proudly wear the green and gold inside the International Convention Centre of Brasilia at the FISU World University Combat Championships currently underway in Brasília, Brazil.

As thousands of the world’s finest university athletes gather in Brasília, Brazil, for the FISU World University Combat Championships, South Africa’s colours are being carried by Pietermaritzburg‑born karate champion Dhruv Heeralal.

The second‑year mechanical engineering student at the University of KwaZulu‑Natal (UKZN) is competing against elite university athletes from more than 100 countries at the tournament, which runs from 8 to 14 June. Approximately 9,200 competitors have gathered across various combat sport disciplines.

Speaking from Brasília, Heeralal described representing South Africa as one of the greatest honours of his life.

“Wearing the green and gold is a deeply personal and humbling experience,” he said. “Being selected to represent my family, my hometown, my university and my country on the global stage is a tremendous privilege. I am humbled by the opportunity to fly the South African flag with pride.”