Koolopile returns to Karate
KARATELocal Karateka, Lemogang Koolopile has been absent from the Karate scenes for sometime following the injuries he sustained in a car accident back in 2020. Nevertheless, the determined Koolopile kept his patience and recovered very well and this past weekend, the flexible athlete scored gold in Kata category during the Jwaneng Open Championship hosted in the Mining Town of Jwaneng this past weekend.
“I have finally returned but to a different category. I’ve always been fighting- 67kg category since around 2011 when it was - 68 kg until 2020 when I got into an accident.”
However, the 28 year old says he is not yet at the level he intents to be at and he is working very hard to ensure that he attains his set goals for the year. “I wouldn’t say I’m at my brilliant best, I am still learning to fight in this state I’m in; I’ve gained a lot of weight these past 2 years of injury that is why I’m now fighting - 75 kg category.”
This was the first time he competed since the year 2020 when he got injured in a gruesome and ghastly car accident.
“It felt like it was my first time competing. A lot of things I’ve changed in my all time fighting style to accommodate the new me and it all worked out fine; most of my karate friends had nothing but good things to say after my fights so I’m happy and going back to work even harder for the next championship.”
Docta as he is affectionately known, has always been a future prospect having won local, regional, continent and commonwealth medals; he is an Ausc Region 5 gold medalist, Commonwealth Gold medalist and UFAK Bronze medalist. “My aim has always been to win a world karate federation medal. I intend to continue with that aim. And I aim to build my club Pro Fitness Karate into one of the best karate clubs in the continent. So far so good.”
For the next coming months, the local karateka will be looking to get in shape and regain that much needed fitness. “I’d like to compete locally and regionally for a few more months to try get back on track before I start looking into international competition.”
He added that challenges are always there in sport and there are always ways to overcome those challenges instead of letting them deter you from your path. “I’d say to upcoming athletes who, God forbid, might come across challenges I’ve faced, that, Just like in our sport sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, what’s most important is to never give up.”