Covid-19 doesn’t stop determined Karatekas
“I was happy when all 18 of our dojo athletes made the Gauteng team. They really deserve their spots.”
Eighteen members of the Goju Kai St Andrews and Goju Kai Founders Hill dojos were selected to compete in the Karate South Africa national all-styles championships.
The karatekas made the cut after they were chosen to represent the Ekurhuleni district karate team at the Gauteng Karate Federation provincial championships held at the Portuguese Hall.
The provincial championships were held in Turffontein from February 19 to 21. Sensei Russell Sim said the tournament received JOC compliance from the City of Johannesburg and was run using strict Covid-19 protocols.
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“It was very difficult for the athletes to prepare for this event, as all dojos have to train using social distancing. Non-touch training is still being enforced in the dojos.”
“They really committed to the fitness and drills training and it benefitted them immensely in the tournament. I was happy when all 18 of our dojo athletes made the Gauteng team. They really deserve their spots.”
Some of the individual results are as follows:
• Darshan Govender – gold medals for kata and kumite.
• Gabriella Toweel – gold medals for kata and kumite.
• Devin Bourbon – gold medal for kata.
• Jesse Sim – gold medal for kata and silver medal for team kata.
• Mikayla Alves – gold medal for kata and silver medal for kumite.
• Tyler Kabali-Kagwa – gold medal for kumite, silver medal for team kata and bronze medal for kata.
• Connor Hundermark – silver medals for kata and team kata and a bronze medal for kumite.
• Phumelele Ngwenya – silver medal for team kata.
• Bongi Ngwenya – silver medal for team kata.
• Bradley Ho-Tong – silver medal for team kata.
• Chloe Keartland – bronze medals for kata and kumite.
• Tyler Penta – silver medal for kumite and bronze medal for kata.
• Marco Botha – bronze medals for kata and kumite.
• Suzaan Botha – bronze medals for kata and kumite.
• Arnoldus van der Merwe – bronze medal for kumite.
• Connor Falls – bronze medal for kumite.
• Praneel Ramjee – silver medal for kumite.
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