Saturday and Sunday will be big days for Dan Triangle Club’s Christopher Thela and Stephanie Watt as they take on the top karatekas at the KWF World Championships in Japan.
The duo are part of the South African team looking to make a mark on the international stage.
Thela will be competing in the kumite in the masters’ division, while Watt will be participating in the kata in the senior category.
While Watt will be competing at the world championships for the first time, Thela is going there to attempt to win the title he won in 2019.
“I am over the moon because I have won that championship before. I’m going there with confidence and believe I will win it again. I’m excited and looking forward to it,” said Thela.
While he is happy with how he has prepared for the tournament, the veteran feels certain things could have gone better in his training.
“My preparations have gone well, but you know load-shedding disturbs you because you cannot be at the dojo earlier, so you are always coming late to the dojo,” he told Herald before leaving for Japan on Tuesday.
“But I think I’m good. Apart from that, I’m ready.”
Thela goes to the tournament carrying a fair amount of experience with him.
“When you are in that international space to showcase your talent, you need to be calm and don’t try to show off but rather observe and be serious,” he said.
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Watt, on the other hand, is going to the world championships for the first time. She is not a novice because she has qualified for the tournament a few times before but could not make it due to budget constraints.
“I am very excited and feel extremely blessed that I get this opportunity,” she said.
Watt’s expectations include, “I am excited to go and I am going to try to get a medal for the kata. I will be happy with a bronze. But even if I win nothing, I will still be happy to go,” she told the Herald.
The Sho Dan black belt has been a karateka for 12 years. Being part of the Dan Triangle Club has its advantages, as a few members have competed at the world championships before. Tapping into their experiences has helped Watt.
“They say they love it and Japan is their favourite country to visit. It can be daunting because it is such a big competition. It is an amazing opportunity to just be invited,” she said.
“I’m honoured that I made the team.”
