SA’S karate kid heads for Commonwealth games

TEENAGE karate sensation Kiara Lakaram, right, is on course to make a big impression at the Commonwealth Karate Championship to be held in Durban in November.

The 19-year-old recently returned from captaining the University Sports South Africa female karate all-styles team at the World University Games held in Japan. The first-year Business Science student at the University of Kwazulu-natal managed a top-16 finish in Osaka.

“It was quite an experience and a surprise to lead the team in my first year. The atmosphere was incredible both during the warm-up and in competition,” Lakaram said.

“The competition was at a high level, with world-class athletes. It was good to see how they go about their business. I learnt a lot,” she added.

Lakaram, from Effingham Heights, was introduced to the sport by her father, Joy, a former karate teacher.

“I was around four when I started. By the age of seven, I joined Skisa (Shotokan Karate-do International South Africa) and began training under the current Proteas coach, Brando Pillay,” Lakaram explained.

She made her debut in the national team at the age of 13 and over the years has represented South Africa in Australia, Croatia, Indonesia, Botswana and Mozambique.

“I took to the sport immediately and was able to climb through the ranks. There is still so much more for me to achieve with hard work in the coming years,” Lakaram said.

Now all her attention is on the Commonwealth Championships. “I definitely want to place, it is going to be my first time competing at the tournament. I will be training hard for it, up to four times a week for two to three hours a day,” she said.