11th ISKF Pan American Karate C’ship …
HAVING experienced mixed fortunes on the first day of the 11th International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) Pan American karate championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, host country Guyana rebounded to top the medal table at the end of the two-day championships last Sunday.
The team from the Land of Many Waters, ended with a whopping 44 medals, 18 of which were gold, with 11 silver and 15 bronze, but as Guyana’s most decorated karateka Master Frank Woon-A-Tai had predicted it was the youths who carted off the bulk of Guyana’s medals, for which he expressed great delight.
The junior category of the victorious Team Guyana won 42 of the 44 medals, with the other two going to Natalie Gibson and senior women’s participant Maureen Woon-A-Tai, who both won gold in the kumite and individual kata competitions respectively.
Guyana’s nearest rival on the podium was the team from the Land of the Flying Fish Barbados who netted 21 medals, inclusive of seven gold, six silver and five bronze medals.
They were followed by North American powerhouses USA and Canada respectively but while Canada secured more medals numerically, USA who got more silver medals.
Both countries secured four gold medals, but USA picked up three silver medals in comparison to Canada’s two, while Canada took home six bronze and the USA half of that.
Trinidad and Tobago occupied the fifth position on the medal table with their eight medals (1gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze) while Jamaica occupied the sixth position with four (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze).
Woon-A-Tai later said that it was a “fantastic” performance by the Guyanese karatekas especially the younger ones who lived up to his predictions, while he showered praise on Gibson who defied a knee injury to win her gold in the senior women kumite.
“What Guyana achieved at the just concluded tournament was great. It was a historic tournament not only for the countries and personalities who were there, but the performance by all the karatekas, especially the home team.
“They surpassed my expectations and I am extremely happy for all of them, especially the young ones who led from the front. It showed their hard work and that of the various senseis who took them through their paces, especially sensei Jeffrey Wong who took them to the Marudi Creek Resort a few weekends, paid off.”
Woon-A-Tai singled out the performances of Gibson and young Aliya Wong, while he described Mikhail Broomes’ kick that connected to his Barbadian opponent Kristopher Coppin as the best kick he has ever seen, going on further to state it was a pity Broomes was disqualified as his kick made contact.
The Guyana Karate College (GKC) and the Government of Guyana were the successful hosts of the tournament which saw His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo in attendance on the final day.
Yesterday, both Master Woon-A-Tai and Sensei Jeffrey Wong made an attempt to turn the sod to commence the building of the GKC dojo at Liliendaal, but were prevented from doing so by overnight rain.
According to Master Woon-A-Tai, who also took the time to thank corporate Guyana as well as the fans who turned out to witness the athletes on display for their support, they will turn the sod sometime in November.