Tinley Manor karateka Joshua Links flew the South African flag high after winning bronze at the 12th Commonwealth Karate Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

The 19-year-old represented the South African Protea team in the senior men’s kumite under-60kg division at the Emirates Arena from November 5 to 8.

He finished third alongside England’s Thomas Giurma-Handley, while Scotland’s Adam Hamill claimed gold and Australia’s Declan Squire took silver.

The medal marks another milestone in Links’ karate career, which began at the age of three.

He trains under Kyoshi Ben Mare at Seiwakai Hombu Dojo in Tongaat and also serves as a junior instructor at Seiwakai Links Karate Academy at the Tongaat Sports Centre, alongside his father and head coach, Sensei Nicolas Links.

Outside karate, Links is a first-year computer science student at UKZN and enjoys volleyball, soccer, futsal, basketball, padel and squash. His father, Nicolas, said he was immensely proud of his son’s achievement.

“A heartfelt thank you to everyone whose spiritual, emotional or financial support helped make this dream a reality. We salute you and share this achievement with you. It would not have been possible without you,” he said.