Karatekas eye Beijing
TEAM South Africa returned from the All Africa Championships held in Cameroon last week with three of their karatekas now in serious contention for a crack at the Olympic Games to take place in Beijing in 2022.
SKISA Proteas Riasha Singh, Osman Ghoor and Daena Naidoo all achieved podium finishes that added to the tally of 15 medals won by Team SA.
Umhlanga College student Osman Ghoor lost the final by a whisker in what was described by Karate South Africa’s president Hanshi Sonny Pillay as a poor refereeing decision. He had to settle for the silver medal.
“Every time I attacked I was not given the point. I was up against a Cameroonian fighter in the final and I believe it was a home town decision,” said Osman.
“However, as a sportsman I need to accept the decision and move on. Going to Cameroon was my first international competition and I regard my experience there as a learning curve.”
The second Dan Black Belt Grade 11 pupil will have another chance to prove himself at an international level when he leaves with the Protea team to Croatia on June 25 to compete in the World Youth Tournament.
Pint-size Daena Naidoo fought like a tigress to make the final but came up against a giant of an opponent from the host country Cameroon in the final. She also had to settle for a silver medal.
“I’m quite short so most of my opponents are bigger than me but my opponent in the final was much taller and bigger than me as well. Although she was much taller I still managed to make contact but she won on points,” said the Grade 11 pupil.
Daena was chosen to go to Croatia but decided not to attend.
Top ranked national fighter Riasha Singh was grouped among the best senior female fighters in Africa and after a bruising encounter she came back with a bronze medal.
Riasha said the standard at the championships was very high and challenging.
“The techniques used and movement on the floor were quite different to the way we train, so we had to adapt quickly, while on the mat. It helped to open my eyes as to how I can improve myself,” said Riasha.
Riasha, who is a final-year chemical engineering student at UKZN, said that apart from the bruised nose, she would take back the experience of competing with the best of the best that Africa had to offer in Cameroon.
Protea coach Brando Pillay said all three number one ranked players in SA were shining examples of the high standard of the sport in the country.