Martial artists win 8 golds

GOODWOOD resident Samla Natalie Doran, who made history by becoming the first South African female athlete to compete at the Hong Kong International Kung Fu Championship, has won a gold medal.

The 30-year-old was part of the South African Kung Fu Development Squad of 10, consisting of eight junior students and two adults, which competed at the event.

The team will return home with eight medals.

The group worked hard preparing for the championships, training four times a week, raising funds and balancing it with their studies.

They were led by three-time gold medallist Muhammad Junaid Chafeker, aka MJ Li.

He set the tone by competing in The Professional Athletes Division, winning three gold medals, in the Tai Chi, Weapons and Bare Hand Dual divisions.

“Doran won the gold medal in the ladies beginners U30 division. The team’s differently abled 11-yearold, Saifullah Chafeker, won first place, earning the team’s fifth gold medal, competing against ablebodied junior athletes under the age of 12 years. Muhajir Abrahams, 11, finished second with silver and Sinawo Yola, 17, an intermediate athlete, won the team’s second silver medal,” Chafeker said.

They were among 6000 athletes from 32 countries.

The group triumphed in the Team Synchronised event, which was another first for South Africa and this became the team’s sixth gold medal and eighth medal in total.

“The entire team of nine athletes competed in the Team Synchronised event, winning gold,” he said.

The South African team was well represented, with athletes from Gugulethu, Mitchells Plain, Paarl, Caledon and Riviersonderend.

This was Chafeker’s second Youth Development Squad to enter the tournament after a successful run last year, when they brought home eight gold medals with the beginners’ squad.

“The SA Youth Kung Fu Development Squad were wonderful ambassadors for South Africa and their achievements could contribute towards Kung Fu becoming popular across the country,” he said.

The team will arrive at Cape Town International Airport tomorrow at 1.30pm.