Durga Devi Thamoodran was bestowed a second black belt at a special graduation ceremony - 16th Arangetra Vizha - held by Persatuan Kesenian Adithada Silambam on March 25.

A lifelong exponent, she firmly believes that all women should learn martial arts for self-defence.

This young lady who works for a tech company took up silambam when she was five years old. Her father - a silambam grandmaster - had taught her and her younger brother to master this ancient Indian martial art.

Durga previously won two gold medals at...