| Gold medals galore for karatekas |
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| Written by Staff Reporters | ||
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A group of 47 students from Goju Ryu Karate Namibia represented the country at the I.O.G.K.F. Africa Karate Championships in Stellenbosch, South Africa, on 31 May.
A Karateka has to win both the Kata and Kumite disciplines in order to win a medal. A true fourth place is also determined by die winners/losers pool draw sheet system. The Black Belt men team, which obtained silver medals last year, showed extreme skill by beating the Western Cape B team, the Western Cape A team, as well as the Gauteng team. By winning gold medals this year, the team became the I.O.G.K.F. Black Belt Men champions for the first time in the six years since Namibia started participating in the event. What makes this achievement even more special is that two of the three team members of the Western Cape A team are part of the three men team that is the defending I.O.G.K.F. World Champions of 2005. Stefan van der Merwe, who has competed in the championship since 2003, won his division for the sixth consecutive year. This achievement has not been equalled by anyone in the I.O.G.K.F. in Africa. Namibia dominated the senior events on the day by winning the Black Belt Men Team Division (Willie Viljoen, Jürgen van Wyk and Roche Louw). The Black Belt Ladies Division was won by Tegan Sham (Walvis Bay Club, 2nd consecutive year). Stefan van der Merwe won the Brown/Black Belt Junior Division, while Max Meyer won the Brown Belt Male Division. Gold medals were also won by Ndapewa Nendongo, Paulus Kanyangela (Walvis Bay Club), Shaun Halgreen, Opomanga Kafidi, Michelle Lewis, Chad Hansen (2nd consecutive year) and Mufaro Nhundu. Goju Ryu Karate paid tribute to Ekonolux for its support. |
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