Taking up a sport that was at first ridiculed by his friends, Praveen Kumar's historic gold at the recent World Championship ended up bringing parents and kids closer to wushu.
Going off to sleep every night "with thoughts of winning only the gold" has paid off handsomely, for the feat in Shanghai, China last week is as much a recognition for the sport as it for the Haryana athlete himself.
"My parents were unaware of the sport and friends would make fun of the name wushu. I would show them the fight videos and they started finding it interesting. Fight dekhke bolte the ye to bahut accha game hai (after watching the fights, they found it interesting)," Praveen told Sports Authority of India (SAI).
"I set up my mind then that I have to do well in the Asian and the World meets," said the first Indian man to win a World Championship gold.
Since winning the gold, Praveen said he has been flooded by calls with parents enquiring about the sport.
"I am now getting a lot of calls from youngsters and parents where to start their training. Pramod Kataria, my senior, has opened his own academy in Haryana, while there are academies in Delhi as well," he said.
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"My suggestion is start with a mixed regime with focus on punches and throws. As for me, my favourite technique is throwing with a single leg takedown as well as the right thigh kick," he added.
Serving in the Indian Army, Praveen achieved the feat in the 48kg sanda category, defeating Philippines' Russel Diaz 2-1 in the final.
"My Army coaches and mentors kept motivating me, telling me constantly 'tu yeh kar sakta hai' (you can do it)."