12 Aug 2018

Hosts Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB) Karate Club dominated the 6^th edition of the annual karate open tournament played at the Mogoditshane Senior Secondary school on August 11.

The tournament which has been hailed as a success by event organisers was introduced in 2011 in a bid to give local karatekas especially young athletes’ exposure in various karate techniques such as team kumite and team kata. 

SSKB‘s club spokesperson Godiraone Phuduhudu explained in an interview that among other things they had been impressed by the level of commitment from new clubs.

He said the tournament also came in handy for national team athletes who were preparing for the continental showpiece, the Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK) 17^th African seniors karate championships.

He said for young athletes it was just to keep them in good shape and prepare them for local tournaments.

The weekend’s event attracted over 300 karatekas vying for top honors in different categories. SSKB karate club scooped most team events with their individual karatekas emerging tops in kata and individual kumite.  

SSKB’s Junior Seleke started the ball rolling by scooping an entertaining 10-11 years boys’ individual kata category. 

A closely contested tie was in the boys’ 12-13years boys’ individual kata where Gabriel Seleke went for the jugular with Louis Madibela. 

The latter settled for the second spot as the four judges waved in favour of Seleke. 

Seleke and his teammates regrouped to scoop the boys’ 10-15years team kata while Glenvalley settled for the second spot. 

In the senior male individual kata Aubrey Metswi beat Thebe Duna to the first spot while Abigail Ramotshwarapula won the girls’ kumite category. 

In another entertaining match Kgosithebe Walobaka took position one ahead of Zambian Comlee Chola in the senior male individual kumite. 

SSKB’s duo of Keabetse Mokhondo and Vincent Kesekang took the remaining third and fourth spot respectively.

Madibela won his second gold medal when he came out tops in the boys’ 12-13years individual kumite ahead of Kgotso Maano, David Leshoba and Ronald Kaote.

The tried and tested Lame Hetanang of Rising Star club was once again unstoppable in the senior ladies under55kg kumite beating Pamela Mange in the finals. 

Tlotlo Chimbisi scooped the ladies under68kg beating Laone Matome.  Ends