DHAKA, July 30, 2026 (BSS) - Rising from a poor farming family in Lalmonirhat, taekwondo practitioner Santona Rani Roy has earned national and international recognition through her achievements in martial arts and is now training young women while working to promote self-defence, prevent child marriage and support women's employment.

Born in Haridas village under Sarpukur Union of Aditmari upazila in Lalmonirhat, Santona grew up in hardship. Her parents could not afford to buy her new clothes during her childhood. From an early age, she struggled against poverty and later worked as a private tutor alongside her studies to support the education expenses of her younger siblings. Although many of her personal aspirations remained unfulfilled, she dreamed of doing something significant for the country and its people.

Determined to realise that dream, she took up taekwondo. Along with developing herself through the martial art, she earned national and international recognition. She also began teaching taekwondo to girls, and under her guidance, many students have won gold, silver and bronze medals. Altogether, they have secured 60 medals, earning her recognition across the country.

Santona Rani Roy is the daughter of farmer Subash Chandra Roy and housewife Jamuna Rani Roy, who was once associated with the Mass Education Programme as a volunteer. Jamuna Rani knew yoga, and Santona learned it from her mother during her teenage.

Santona is the eldest among three sisters and one brother. One of her sisters is married. Her work now centres on taekwondo, public service and the prevention of child marriage.

Her achievements in taekwondo are among the key reasons for her growing reputation. Between 2011 and 2020, she participated in various national and international competitions and won 14 medals, including 10 gold, two silver and two bronze.

Students of the Lalmonirhat Taekwondo Association (LTA), founded by Santona, have also achieved remarkable success in different competitions, winning 46 medals.

The government recognised her consistent achievements. She achieved different awards from the government.

Santona said, “I want every household in Bangladesh to produce a martial arts daughter like me. The Lalmonirhat Taekwondo Association is working toward that goal. Many people are supporting me in different ways.”

Santona has won 14 medals in national and international competitions, including 10 gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Students of the Lalmonirhat Taekwondo Association have won another 46 medals in various competitions.

She is now actively involved in preventing child marriage in her area through awareness campaigns. She has also established “Santona Handicrafts” to create employment opportunities for underprivileged women.

How she began taekwondo:

Asked why she became interested in taekwondo despite having opportunities to play football and other sports, Santona said that while studying at Rangpur Government College in 2005, she noticed students receiving martial arts training on the college campus.

After making inquiries, she learned that martial arts teach self-defence techniques while promoting discipline and physical fitness. This motivated her to pursue taekwondo.

Driven by that interest, Santona received training in taekwondo from Sitoriyo Karate Do in Rangpur in 2005, the Rajshahi Taekwondo Association in 2010, and the Central Taekwondo Association in Dhaka in 2011. She earned her Black Belt First Dan after passing the examination in Dhaka in 2011 and obtained her Second Dan in 2018.

According to information available on the internet, taekwondo is a martial art and the national sport of South Korea. It combines combat techniques, self-defence, sports, exercise and, in some cases, philosophy and meditation.

Her multidimensional work:

Women in Bangladesh often face rape, sexual harassment and other forms of violence on roads, in workplaces and even at home. To help girls and young women protect themselves from such incidents, Santona established the Lalmonirhat Taekwondo Association (LTA) in Lalmonirhat.

She also founded “Santona Handicrafts” in her village to provide training and employment opportunities for underprivileged women.

Bangladesh International Taekwondo Association (BITA) Secretary General Master Solaiman Sikder said, “I trained Santona in taekwondo. If she receives the right environment and support, she will one day become Bangladesh’s best coach.”