OTHO Harris last Sunday landed gold in the Boys’ 14-17 kata and 14-17 (under 68kg) kumite, while Aliya Wong and Tashana Wong won the Girls’ 14-17 kata and kumite respectively, when the 2016 Senior National Karate Championships concluded last Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Homestretch Avenue.Harris took his gold in the kata ahead of Avinash Ramlogan, while Charles Benjamin finished in third. Jermaine Kendall and Mark Wong placed second and third respectively, behind Harris in the kumite.
Loren Black grabbed second in both the Girls’ 14-17 kata and kumite. Finishing behind Black in the kata was Tashana, who walked away with a bronze medal also, at the end of the competition.
Ramlogan made sure he did not end the day without a gold himself, championing the Boys’ 14-17 Under-55kg kumite, beating out second-placed Charles Benjamin.
In the male 14-17 Over-68kg kumite Trevon Miller prevailed over Shemar Parkinson, leaving Storm Katchay in third spot.
In the older categories, Nyota Rodrigues won the female adult Over-18 years kata and Rebecca Wesley captured the kumite; Roger Peroune prevailed in the male adult Over-18 years, and Navindra Soodoo secured the male adult Over-18 years Under-67kg kumite gold; Rodwell Alleyne won the Under-75kg kumite, and Shaqueel Amin triumphed in the Under-84kg kumite.
The final gold medal in the individual segment was for the Over-84kg male and this went to Dellon Hyman. In this event Keith Beaton finished second, and Prince Roberts copped the third-place position.
Meanwhile in the Team competition, the women kata was taken by Berbice Shotokan Karate Dojo team, comprising Oneika Ramsuchit, Leah Shariff and Tulsidai Ramotar.
Association do Shotokan Karate – Guyana women’s team of Chelcia Benjamin, Rebecca Wesley, and Kristine Ramkissoon finished in second.
On the men’s side, it was the Shotokan Karate-Do of Guyana that won both the male team kata and kumite. Guyana Karate College finished second in the kata and National Martial Arts Association placed second in the kumite.
Following the competition, the winners received their respective medals at a presentation and closing ceremony.
Gratitude was expressed to Director of Sport Christopher Jones for the donation of the medals and use of the CASH.
Appreciation was also extended to the officials – Bernice Irving, Tabita Goolsarran, Sattie Miller and Patrick Gurahoo for their 10 hours of officiating at the head-table.