IT MAY not have been the same seismic shock as Leicester City lifting the Barclays Premier League but Harleen Kaur's triumph in the sport category of the NatWest Asian Women of Achievement awards was certainly unexpected.

"I was about the only one who hadn't prepared a speech," admitted 17-year-old Bradford schoolgirl Harleen.

The Appleton Academy pupil was up against football agent and lawyer Bilkis Mahmood, cricket coach Saba Nasim, professional tennis player Eden Silva and company director Manisha Tailor, but the Appleton Academy A-Level student was the chosen one at London's Hilton on Park Lane Hotel.

Harleen, a World Martial Kombat Federation (WMKF) World Championship silver medallist, added: "It was a very glitzy occasion and I didn't expect to win. My speech was made up on the spot."

The youngest award winner, Harleen, who is a 2nd Dan Black Belt in karate, has trained for nearly ten years in martial arts, and not only trains in karate, but also kick-boxing, in which she is a British champion, ju-jitsu and taekwondo.

Head girl at her school, Harleen, who is taking A-Levels in maths, sport, psychology and sociology and wants to study sports science at university, is also an ambassador for the Asian Sports Foundation.

Pinky Lilani CBE DL, who is founder of the Asian Women of Achievement Awards, said: “We are thrilled for all the winners, who are united by their passion and inspirational achievements.

"The diversity of this year’s winners highlights that Asian women in Britain are bucking stereotypes while making an enormous contribution to British life.

"I am immensely proud to stand alongside this inspiring group of women.”

Among those present at the awards, which are in their 17th year, were Princess Badiya bint El Hassan of Jordan, a lawyer and chairman of Prince Charles' charity Mosaic; BBC newsreader Riz Lateef, who presented 11 of the awards, and ITV newsreader Julie Etchingham.

The judging panel for the sports award were Air Marshal Sir David Walker and Joanne Vickers.

The national award completed a great fortnight for the teenager, who won two silver medals in the WMKF England qualifiers at the Vision West Notts College Sports Centre in Mansfield, which means that she can compete in the World Championships in Malta in November.

Harleen's medals in the Road To Malta qualifier came in the semi-continuous points fighting (the bouts were stopped every time points were scored) and the continuous combat, which consisted of two two-minute rounds.

She said: "I will be going for gold this time, and it is my birthday just days after Malta, so gold will be a nice birthday present!"