It’s Tokyo for tiny dynamo and Lady with Fiery Fists

TWO East London karate athletes, reigning All-Africa and South African U55kg champion Leighandre Jegels, 23, and nineyear-old Inathi Sam, are all agog about their trip to Tokyo, Japan, where they will represent the country at the World Kyokushin Karate Championships this weekend.

This will be the fourth visit to the World Champs for Jegels.

The two will be accompanied by their trainer, Shihan Stephen Martin and Inathi’s father, Xolamzi Sam, who will manage the team.

The girls have been training exceptionally hard and have been seen in recent weeks on Eastern Beach each morning and early evening, where they put in training stints of between two to three hours at a time.

According to Martin, little Inathi has come on in leaps and bounds this past year, and much is also expected of this “mini-dynamo”. She will be keen to make a good impression at her first outing on the world stage.

There is much at stake for Jegels, who is also a professional boxer who is unbeaten so far in the square ring. “I am very confident that Leandre, who has been shaping up well, will come home with the world title in her weight category,” said Martin. “She has the technique, the speed, to beat stronger opponents from Brazil and Russia. If she does win her section, she will be the first female South African to return from Tokyo with a world title.”

The Border contingent left East London Airport yesterday and linked up with the rest of the 16-strong South African squad at Johannesburg’s O R Tambo airport.

The tournament is due to start on Friday and finishes on Saturday. After the event ends, Martin will remain in Japan for a few days at a special camp for trainers.