17 Jun 2015

At least four international karatekas from Hong Kong are set to grace this year’s annual Gaborone Open karate championships at Al Nur School.

The 5^th edition of the tournament, which has been one of the leading karate tournaments on the local scene, looks set to be bigger and more exciting as it will showcase some of the finest karatekas from the continent and abroad.

Fresh from an impressive performance from the Zone VI tournament in Johannesburg, local karatekas have heightened their preparations for this year’s karate extravaganza in their bid to make a positive impression ahead of the closely contested All Africa Games penciled for September.

They will be keen to impress in their bid to don national colours on the continental stage.

One of the tournament’s organisers, Ofentse Bakwadi, said the event will showcase refined kata moves from Asian champions in the mould of Cheng Tsz Man Chris, Lee Ka Wai, Lee Chun Ho and women’s kumite sensation, Tsang Yee Ting. 

Regionally, the tournament will host South African karate champion Morgan Moss, Mozambican national champion Lewis Sousa and Zimbabwean crowd favourite Winston Nyanhete, who is popularly known as Spider. 

The local youth team, which has been on fine form, will also take part as it begins its journey to the Commonwealth Championships in India and the World Championships scheduled for Jakarta this year.

The visiting Asian karatekas will find tough opposition from the determined local lads.

Kaene Kago, Mpho Bosenakitso and Oratile Caiphus will lie in wait for Lee Kai Wai in the men’s over 67kg while the on song Thato Malunga is likely to face a mammoth task against the youthful Tsang Yee Ting. Bakwadi, who scooped gold in Johannesburg for his efforts in individual kumite, will go up against seasoned karateka Cheng Tsz Man Chris, who recently toppled world champion Antonio Diaz in the Dutch Open WKF League One tournament.

In the absence of the team kata category, Baone Radiposo and Tsholofelo Maduma are expected to make their mark in the individual kata category. Rafael Reid, who has missed a number of local tournaments due to school commitments, will also feature alongside One Ntalagwe, Tirafalo Tsimamma and Thabang Setshego. 

The event sponsors are Western Union, Debswana and Mascom. ENDS