The 2016 World Martial Arts Games saw some of Potchefstroom’s finest  young martial arts talent make their city proud with gold medals on the   international stage.

This World Championship was hosted at the Ticketpro Dome in      Johannesburg over the weekend of 14-16 October. It is also an SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), World Martial Art Games Council and Martial Arts South Africa (Masa) accredited event.

South Africa competed against 13 other countries with a national Protea team, a presidential team and a development team.

Francois Coetzee, Elyoné Coetzee, Lohyn Coetzee, Frikkie Scheepers and El-Riette Kruger were the standout achievers of the Sansei organisation.

Francois represented the national Protea team and received a gold, silver and bronze medal.

Eloyoné of Laerskool Mooirvier achieved three gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

Her brother, Lohyn, who is in the  same school, took home two gold and two silver medals. Frikkie Scheepers of Ferdinand Postma displayed his    talents with three gold and one silver medal, whilst El-Riette Kruger of Potchefstroom Gimnasium took home three gold, one silver and one bronze medal. All these young athletes were part of the development team and can be commended for their effort and hard work.

‘It took countless hours of practice and dedication and the results are a reflection of this,’ said Francois who is responsible for training the young athletes.