Proud Protea Karateka
ABIGAIL Govender, who achieved her Protea colours for karate and recently represented the country at an international event held in Croatia, has been chosen as the POST/ SuperSport Let’s Play Sports Star for August.
The 12-year-old pint-sized dynamo from Phoenix trains at the Clayhaven dojo, where she honed her skill under the watchful eye of Protea coach Sensei Vijay Govender. Govender is also her mom.
Abigail, who holds a brown belt, has achieved many national and international accolades since she started training at the age of 3.
She belongs to the Association of Shotokan Karate-do South Africa (ASKDSA), led by the president, Sensei Dennis Kumarasamy.
She represented South Africa at the Commonwealth Karate Championships in India in September last year, where she was placed third in the 10-11 age category (under 39kg) kumite division.
Abigail was placed third in the 12-13 years (under 42kg) kumite division at the Children’s SA karate Nationals held in Durban in March this year.
She was selected to represent the country at the Junior Youth World Cup in Umag, Croatia, from June 27 to July 4.
Although Abigail did not achieve a medal at this elite event, she had the honour to train under WKF World Karate Champions Luca Valdesi, Raphael Agayahev, Davide Benetello, Douglas Brose and Rika Usami, from whom she says she attained great knowledge.
At the recent SA Elite karate Championships held at DUT in Durban, she was placed third in her division for kumite. Abigail, together with other Protea athletes, was honoured by Karate South Africa (KSA ) at an awards function held two weeks ago.
Abigail will also be representing her country at their style championships, at the third ISKF World Cup in Cape Town from August 17-21.
Sensei Govender, who recently qualified as an international WKF karate coach in both kata and kumite, is extremely proud of Abigail’s achievements thus far.
She attributes Abigail’s achievements to her hard work, dedication, determination.
Abigail, a Grade 7 pupil at Clayhaven Primary School, said: “Thank you to POST and SuperSport for making me the Sports Star of the month. This award will inspire me to achieve more in karate.
“I also need to thank my mom for guiding me over the years. Although I have achieved my junior Protea colours, the biggest challenge for me is to earn national colours at a senior level.”
Do you have what it takes to become the POST/ SuperSport Let’s Play Sports Star of the Month? We are looking for talented schoolchildren aged 7 to 18 who excel in sports for their school, province or nationally.
E-mail your nomination to: info@media-link.co.za or fax 086 586 9277.