Sports builds character and character builds a nation. This has been embodied by Mr. Vivek Anila Satheesh, who has been selected as the Referee for Kickboxing at the World Combat Games 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is the first time that a referee from India is participating in the World Combat Games for Kickboxing Sports, which is a matter of pride for the country. Mr. Vivek Anila Satheesh, General Secretary/Technical Director, Kerala State Amateur Kickboxing Association and International Referee (WAKO IF), Member WAKO India Referee Committee Ring Sports will be the First Referee from India (WAKO India Kickboxing Federation) to be selected for the World Combat Games 2023 to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 22 to 28 October 2023. Vivek is one of the nine Ring referees selected from across the world for kickboxing. For the first time from India, he has also participated in another continental championship in the form of European Championship. For this opportunity, he thanks to the WAKO family and WAKO India President Shri Santosh Agrawal for their support and guidance.
Vivek tells that he started his martial arts journey in 2004, he started working hard for boxing/kickboxing. After this, he worked hard to become a referee at the National and International level. Served as Chief Referee in International Kickboxing Championship, countries like Turkey and Uzbekistan and eventually got the privilege of being selected at the great international level like World Combat Games.