By Marlon Munroe
Plans are moving ahead for the 11th International Shotokan Federation (ISKF) Pan American Karate Championships scheduled for Guyana from August 15 to August 19, according to Sensei Jeffrey Wong.
Wong, Chief Instructor of the Guyana Karate College (GKC) and member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), said that the biggest problem facing the tournament is financing. However, he remained confident that it will go ahead as planned.
He revealed to Stabroek Sport that GKC has been lobbying some companies for support but the responses have been sluggish, especially since an estimated $15M will be needed to host the tournament. Wong, however, acknowledged that times are tough financially but he hoped that corporate Guyana could support the venture.
The tournament will see participation by more than 20 countries.
Meanwhile, he emphasised that the Guyanese karatekas have the wherewithal to produce another stellar performance as they did last year. Further, he was particularly pleased that in this year’s competition, there will be 12 local black belt students participating in the different age groups and events. He pointed out that most of these karatekas were brown belt athletes at last year’s tournament.
Wong, who is himself a Fifth Dan black belt, said that the elevation of the 12 black belt students stands as testimony to the high quality of karate that is taught at the college. The GKC has also selected karatekas from the other coloured belts to participate in the championships in August, especially since they are eligible to improve their grade in the upcoming grading examinations.
It is unclear how many athletes Guyana will be fielding at this year’s tournament but Stabroek Sport understands that Trinidad & Tobago will have one of the largest contingents at the games. The GKC, on the other hand, will be joining forces with the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Dojo, headed by Sensei Amir Khouri.
Wong, who runs the college in the absence of Eight Dan Master Frank Woon-A-Tai, said that Woon-A-Tai has been giving him the leverage to operate. And for this, Wong said that he will be doing his utmost to ensure that there is a favourable report to give when Woon-A-Tai visits Guyana later this month to conduct grading exercises.
Meanwhile, Wong said the Sport Ministry will be looking to support the GKC to successfully run off the championships. He did not reveal whether the Sport Ministry will be doling out any financial contributions but he took time out to thank Minister Dr. Frank Anthony in advance for whatever help his ministry will be giving.
Meanwhile, when Stabroek Sport spoke with some of the athletes from the GKC, they were confident. Current brown belt karatekas Tanya Teixeira, Ashley Lopes and Jeffrey Wong Jr., who are all expected to make Dan at the next grading exercise, said that they have been practising very hard and have been working doubly harder on the new techniques.
They will be participating in the team and individual kata as well as the kumite event. Wong, at this point added that he, along with Sensei Mortley who will be competing at the games, will be looking to familiarise the athletes with some of the revised rules of the ISKF.
In a run-up to the tournament, Masters Teruyuki Okazaki and Yutaka Yaguchi will be hosting a training symposium, seminars, and examinations that will be sanctioned by the ISKF, at the Princess Hotel.
