15 Aug 2017

Karate Nomichi Federation Botswana held its championship on Saturday at Botswana Karate Association Hall (BOKA) in Gaborone followed by a grading session the next day at Gaborone West hall.

The championships were open to all karate styles and in the form of individual Kata and individual Kumite from the ages of six to 13 years children, 14 to 15 years cadets, 16 to 17 years juniors and 18 years and above seniors.

During the session, children aged between six and 13 were allowed to repeat their best kata up to the finals if they wanted to, while the cadets, juniors and seniors had to follow the WKF competition Kata rules.

In an interview, chairperson of Karate Nomichi Federation of Botswana, Sensei Moemedi Mpepe noted that the WKF rules had to be followed under Kumite and Kata, adding that under Kumite, no hand contact to the face for children aged from six and 15 and also all techniques must be controlled.

Sensei Mpepe said under the rules, participants had to bring their own mitts as well as mouth guards or gums as they were compulsory, adding that any participant without them was not allowed to participate in the championships, while children aged betwen six and 13 years’ Kumite time was set to 1 minute 30 seconds.

He noted that children from 14 to 17 years and ladies fight or Kumite were set to two minutes, while seniors were timed to three minutes.
Sensei Mpepe said it was pleasing to see great turn up of athletes, who came to participate and those who came to witness others from their clubs competing.

He noted that it was indeed a great moment to also see the parents coming to support their own kids in such activities as it gives the athletes moral and confidence to do well and he urged parents to continue their children in sports as sports can take them somewhere and they are future champions.

He said the standard of the championship was pleasing.

Technically, he said athletes did their best, adding that having many participants shows Karate was growing with other new members joining.

Sensei Mpepe said even though the boys’ numbers were dominating in the championship as compared to the females, it was their wish to see more women coming on board.

In the seven years and below male Kata category, Boemo Towe from Walker Karate Club scooped first position, while in the eight to nine male category, Marley Motsaatosi from Walker Karate Club also scooped first position, winning a gold medal, while Kgopolo Kgopolo form Maranatha Karate Club took second position and and silver medal.

Walker Karate Club dominated the Kata male category for males aged between 10 to 11 as  Kgole Bareeleng scooped position one and gold medal, while Quinton Santagane settled for second postion with silver medal and Kenanao Marumo and Lethabo Halelujah both walked away with bronze medals for third position.

In the 12 to 13 years male Kata category, Walker Karate Club continued its dominance as Thebe Karema got position one and gold medal and Junior Bashoma scooped position two with silver medal.

Baitirile Karate Club scooped all positions under the male category for males aged 14 to 15 with Botshelo Labane winning gold medal, Setso Seikano walking away with silver medal while David Supping and Loago Ntwaesele both receiving bronze medals respectively.

Lame Hetanang from Raising Stars Club scooped gold medal while Panakie Tlhoolebe from Jwana Karate Academy won silver medal under the category of female kata age of 18 years and above.

The competition got heated with the categories of Kumite as under the category of males under the age of 10 to 11 years under 35Kg Bond Aboneng from Maranatha Karate Club scooped gold medal while Tema Koone from same club scooped silver and from Walker Karate Club Quinton Santagane and Kenanao Marumo both won bronze medals respectively.

For kumite category of females aged 10 to 11 years over 35Kg Pulane Sekhuto from Ryushin-kan won gold medal, while Sebaga Machenzi from same club won silver medal and Oarabile Maake from Walker Karate Club won Bronze medal.

Lame Hetanang scooped gold medal under 18 years and above females followed by Panakie Tlhoolebe winning silver medal while Pholoso Mokaila from Bw Champs and Mighty Ramotho from SSKB club winning bronze medals. BOPA