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MBABANE – Karate remains the biggest attraction for children.
This was evident last Saturday in Mahlanya when a junior karate tournament was held.
The Eswatini Japanese Karate Shoto (EJKS) staged its juniors’ tournament in Mahlanya at Moya Centre and their young artists came in numbers alongside their supporting parents and guardians.
It was not just a tournament to add to their medals and trophies but mainly the selection of a national team to represent the country in various upcoming domestic and international tournaments next year.
At least 114 artists participated on the day. “It was huge for the youngsters and more than anything it’s the passion and drive in these kids that encourages all of us.
“It’s like these youngsters also use karate movies for inspiration given the kata and kumite display we witnessed from them; the future of the sport is undoubtedly bright,” EJKS President Wandile Masina said while explaining that they awarded position one to four and these would form the core of the national team.
He said they rewarded the winning youngsters with medals and at least four of them won two divisions. They essentially took home two gold medals each for their achievement to win the Kata and Kumite divisions.
These were Nathi Shibambo, who won the girls under five-year-old girls’ division while Jameson Jones won the under-7 years.
Boys
Lucas Irwin won the under-5 years old boys’ division and Lily Njabuliso Granville prevailed in the under-9 years.
There was also an open category that allowed seniors to also taste competition and the winners were Malwande Dlamini, Siphilisiwe S’thebe and Thulile Dlamini in the Kumite Ladies Open while the Kata’s champion was S’thebe.
Malwande was second before Melokuhle Ginindza got third. The male Kumite section was won by Sifiso Dube, Ntokozo Mkhonta, Mhlonishwa Dlamini and Sibusiso Mhlanga. The Kata division went to Mduduzi Dlamini while Nhlanhla Simelane was the runner-up.