Group kicks into high gear
Liam May
TWENTY of Nelson Mandela Bay's most promising karate enthusiasts will aim to bring home gold when they go to the International Karate-do Goju-kai World Championships.
The Eastern Province team will be accompanied by sensei Clayton Thom and members of his staff.
"We all are excited about the opportunity to showcase our skills on an international level and we hope to compete with the best in the world [of] karate," Thom said.
The prestigious event is held every four years. Qualification is based on individuals' ranking over the three years leading up to the event.
The Nelson Mandela Bay contingent will be looking to better the results they achieved at the last world championship held in Cape Town in 2009. "The lack of sponsorship and financial constraints have hampered the participation of more talented karatekas, who were forced to withdraw, Thom added.
Competitors as young as seven years have been in vigorous training in the months leading to the tournament.
Though the talented karatekas do not have sufficient resources at their disposal, they make do with what they have, Thom said. The competition takes in India from December 12 to 15.
In Cape Town, they won five gold, two silver and eight bronze medals.