SKA Penampang claim 5th straight champions title
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Karate Association (SKA) Penampang Branch were crowned overall champions in the 20th Sabah State Primary School Karate Championship on Sunday.
It was their fifth consecutive overall champions title won in the championship, which was held at the Ranau Sports Complex multi-purpose hall.
SKA Penampang justified their title holder status by totalling 10 gold, eight silver and 17 bronze medals.
Lovely Anne put up a strong showing by winning two gold medals for SKA Penampang in the girl’s Form One Individual Kata and Kumite -45kg events.
The other gold winners were Peadar Ezra in the boy’s Year Three Kumite -25kg, Alexandr Aaron (boy’s Year Four Kumite 30kg), Aden Judd (boy’s Year Four Kumite +30kg), Eldrich Aaron (boy’s Form One Individual Kata), Annestelle Claire (girl’s Year Three-Four Individual Kata), Audrey Adreana (girl’s Year Three Kumite -25kg), Ivy Olivera Donny (girl’s Year Five Kumite -35kg) and Eideiweiss Franzel (girl’s Year Five Kumite +35kg).
Main Dojo settled for second place with four gold, three silver and three bronze medals while SKA Papar took third place with three gold, one silver and one bronze.
For the record, 30 gold medals were on offer in the two-day championship, which saw more than 500 athletes from over 20 teams across the state taking part.
The other gold medals were won by KSKK Keningau, SKA Tambunan, Keningau and SMK Bandaraya Manggatal with two each as well as SKA Tawau, Shitoryu, SKA Kota Belud, SK St. Francis Convent and SKA Tenom with one each.
SKA secretary-general Julian Chin said the tournament was held successfully and received a good turnout which reflected the progress of the sport.
He added that the tournament was also one of the platforms for the SKA to identify new karate talents.