SKA Tambunan, Main Dojo overall karate champions
KOTA KINABALU: SKA Tambunan and Main Dojo were crowned overall champions respectively in the 45th Sabah State Senior and 10th Secondary Schools Karate Championships in Manggatal nere here over the weekend.
In the state senior championship, SKA Tambunan exponents impressed by winning five golds and one bronze to finish top of the medal standing.
Keningau Sports Complex Karate Club (KKKSK) followed with three golds, two silvers and two bronzes to narrowly edge SKA Penampang for the runner-up spot.
SKA Penampang settled third with three golds, one silver and one bronze.
The other teams with one gold medal each were Main Dojo, SKA Kota Belud and SKA Sandakan.
As for the secondary school competition, Main Dojo were made to fight hard before bagging four golds, six silvers and seven bronzes to emerge as the overall winners.
The victory also ensured they made amends for their fourth place finish in the state senior championship after winning one gold, two silvers and two bronzes.
SKA Tambunan settled for second place with three golds, three silvers and four bronzes while KKKSK finished third with three golds and six bronzes.
SKA Papar with three golds and SKA Penampang with two golds, three silvers and two bronzes completed the top five.
The other gold medals offered went to Dahai Karate Club with two while Shitoryu Sabah, SKA Telupid, Shotokan Karate Association of Sabah (SKAS), SKA Kota Belud and Inspire Karate Club won one each.
SKA president Datuk Jake Jikulin Nointin officiated the prize presentation and closing ceremony of the two-in-one state-level championships.
Meanwhile, SKA secretary general Julian Chin said around 400 athletes took part in the championship.
He however said that many athletes too did not compete in the championships due to the SPM and STPM examinations.
“The state senior championship is also a platform to select karatekas to represent Sabah in the national senior competition in Kuala Lumpur in March,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.