29 medals for Gaju Kai at Gauteng Championships
Sensei Russell Sim said they have been preparing for this event the whole year and the rigorous training has paid off.
Twenty-four karateka from the Goju Kai Crawford Italia Karate Academy in Bedfordview were recently selected to represent the Ekurhuleni district at the Gauteng Karate Federation (GKF) provincial all-styles karate championships.
The event was held at the Portuguese hall in Turffontein.
All were selected for the Ekurhuleni karate team based on their top four placing at the Ekurhuleni district all-styles trials held in November.
By competing at the GKF championships, the 24 karateka earned their Ekurhuleni all-styles karate colours for 2020.
The GKF championships brings together the best karateka from the five different districts in Gauteng to compete for a place in the Gauteng all-styles team which will compete at the Karate South Africa all-styles karate championships in March 2020.
Nineteen members from the dojo made the Gauteng team for 2020 National Karate Championships.
“In total, the dojo took 29 medals at the Gauteng Championships – 9 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze medals.
“They did their dojo proud, whether they made the Gauteng team or not,” said dojo head sensei Russell Sim.
Russell said apart from their traditional training during the week, they also had to attend tournament preparation classes on the weekends.
“It says a great deal about their work ethic and dedication to their dojo. I am immensely proud of all of them,” said Russell.
Individual results were as follows:
- Aiva Kreissel – silver medals for kata and kumite in the girls seven to nine division;
- Chloe Keartland – bronze medal for kumite in the girls seven to nine over 30kg division;
- Gabriella Toweel – bronze medal for kumite in the girls 10-11 under 40kg division;
- Mikayla Alves – gold medals for kata and kumite in the girls 12-13 division;
- Nibawiya Menhennet – bronze medal for kumite in the girls 12-13 under 47kg division;
- Priyanke Reddy – gold medal for kumite in the girls 16-17 under 48kg division;
- Suzaan Botha – silver medal for kumite in the girls 16-17 over 59kg division;
- Michael Hauptfleisch – gold medal for kumite in the boys eight to nine over 30kg division;
- Connor Hundermark – gold medal for kata, silver medal for 10-13 team kata and bronze medal for under 35kg kumite in the boys 10-11 division;
- Devin Bourbon – silver medal for kata in the boys 10-11 division;
- Matteo Erasmus – gold medal for under 35kg kumite and silver medal for team kata in the boys 10-11 division;
- Troy Borges – silver medals for unison kata and under 35kg kumite, and bronze medal for kata in the boys 10-11 division;
- Mathew Soares – bronze medal for kumite in the boys 10-11 under 40kg division;
- Praneel Ramjee – bronze medal for kumite in the boys 10-11 under 35kg division;
- Tyler Kabali-Kagwa – silver medal for kumite in the boys 10-11 under 40kg division;
- AJ van der Merwe – bronze medal for kumite in the boys 12-13 under 55kg division;
- Marco Botha – silver medal for kumite in the boys 14-15 under 63kg division;
- Nicolas Alves – bronze medal for kumite in the 16-17 under 68kg division;
- Jesse Sim – gold medal for team kata and silver medal for kata in the senior men’s division.
