Karatekas set for Rwanda

Sixteen junior and senior karatekas are set to represent Namibia at the 2018 UFAK Junior and Senior Championships from Friday to Sunday in Kigali, Rwanda.The team was wished well by the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) during a send-off event in Windhoek yesterday.They are the largest group ever to travel to the championships, according to team manager Leonard Martin. Martin said the Namibia Karate Union (NKU) decided to give the junior athletes an opportunity to compete in Rwanda. NKU president Cornelius D'Alton said competitions of this magnitude don't come along very often, so the athletes should use the opportunity to shine. “Go and make us proud on the other side and hold the flag of Namibia high,” D'Alton said.NSC chief administrator, Freddy Mwiya, said the competition will give the senior athletes a chance to accumulate points for the Olympic Games. “You have the ability to do great and there is great colour representation in the team. I have to thank the (NKU) president for that, as there has been an outcry of late,” said Mwiya. He further urged the athletes to represent the country well. “Network with everyone, as you will meet the best from Algeria, Egypt and South Africa; but remember that you have the ability to do well.”One of the travelling athletes, Suzelle Pronk, said everyone worked hard and will represent the country to the best of their abilities. Pronk further thanked the NKU management for their hard work, in terms of making sure the team travels to compete. Another karateka, Katelin Martin, encouraged her teammates to keep their focus and remember that they are worthy opponents.“I have been around in a lot of competitions, against the best in the world. But we are up to scale and will give the likes of Algeria a run for their money,” she said.The kata and kumite competitions for those aged between 14 and 19 years, and for seniors in the male and female categories.LIMBA MUPETAMI

Karatekas set for Rwanda

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-12

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Karatekas set for Rwanda

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-12

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