TEAM Guyana which consists of Karatekas from the Guyana Karate College (GKC) under the direction of their senior instructor Sensei Jeffrey Wong, and the Association do Shotokan Karate of Guyana (YMCA) under Sensei Amir Khouri, struck gold on the opening day of the World Shotokan Karate tournament in Toronto, Canada.
The world tournament, which is being organised by the International Karate Diagaku (IKD), commenced with a ceremonial march-on of the various teams representing nations across the world that are under the umbrella of the IKD and saw action in the team embu, team kata bunkai and the individual kata forms.
The star performer of the tournament on its opening day turned out to be Guyana’s very own junior karate sensation Alliyah Wong, who copped three coveted gold medals in as many events.
She is confident of adding to her medal tally today when she participates in the remaining kata and kumite events.
Tyler Orderson, another young leading light in martial arts who was the youngest karateka last year to become a shodan (Black Belt) rank, also excelled in Toronto, gaining a gold, a silver and a bronze on the first day, along with John McGrath, another young black belt, who gained a gold and a bronze.
Other sterling performances came from Tashana Wong and Alyssa Persaud who joined Aliya Wong for gold on the female Youth 8-13 Team Kata Bunkai, Yannick Rameshwar and John McGrath who joined Tyler in the Male Youth 8-13 Group A Team Kata Bunkai.
Matthew Hurry, Prince Alguedowan and Carlos Gonsalves also got the bronze medal in the same division, while Alexander Cheeks, Tariq Dundas, and Shaquille Dundas carted off the gold in Group B and Joshua Mortley, Mark Wong and Desmond Fernandes copped the bronze.
For the female 14 to 19 team Kata Bunkai Christina Cheeks, Christy Dey and Leah Shariff gained gold in that category.
For the male adult 20 to 39 team Kata Bunkai Patrick Cheeks, Roger Peroune and Jason Jerrick uplifted bronze, whilst Dr. Guy Low brought fourth in the Master division, Samuel Ming copped silver and Eric Hing bronze in the 18-19 category,
Today) the action continues with more team katas, but the events that will be focused on will be the team and individual kumite (fighting) contests.