Competition was intense among scores of students who participated in the National Junior Karate Championship on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Participants competed in two forms: the Kumite and Kata. Serena Kumar defeated Suffiya Calvan to win the women’s Kumite 6-8 age group while Isaac Jackman copped first place over Johan McGrath and Davendra Krishanlall, who placed second and third respectively in the men’s contest in the same age-range.
In the women’s 9-11 grouping Kelly Ann Fortune came first, followed by Lateefah Hopkinson and Theresa Sampat in second and third place, respectively. Antuan Headley won over Joshua Campbell and Ashton Bovell who placed second and third respectively. In the men’s 9-11 40-plus category Tariq Dundas came first, Michael Hing, second and Jay Evans, third.
Atashieha Bovell won the women’s 12-14 category followed by Sairrah Saures, second and Christy Dey, third. In the men’s King Cameron placed first, followed by Desmond Fernandes and Keno Cornelius in second and third place respectively.
In the men’s 45-plus KG Shane Wilkinson won, Gurprasad Marhura came second and Shaqueil Agard, third while in the 15-17 age group Kumite Colica Phillips copped first place, Kerry Ramkumar second and Shanay Bristol third.
In the men’s 55-KG and under, in the same category Bharat Jhaiant won first, Premchand Nazim, second and Omeshwar Mohabir, third while in the 55-plus KG Shane Rahaman won and Wilbert Douglas and Christopher were the second and third runners-up.
In the women’s Kata 6-8 age group Hanna Farriah won, followed by Sierra Evans, second and Arshia Singh, third. In the men’s competition, Joshua McGrath placed first; Chablall Tilachnauth and Zachary Lutchmedial came second and third respectively. In the women’s Kata 9-11 age-range, Theresa Sampat copped first place, Kelly Ann Fortune second and Tamera Austin third. The men’s contest, in the same category saw Alexander Cheeks emerge victorious followed by Afraaz Ali and Tariq Dundus, who placed second and third, respectively.
In the women’s Kata 12-14 category Leah Shariff, Christy Dey and Ayodele Bovell were the top three finishers while Kemo Cornelius, Dion Bobb and Joshua Mortley won the top three spots in the men’s contest in the same category.
Kristian Cheeks, Lakesha Person and Kerry Ramkumar placed first, second and third respectively in the Kata 15-17 category while Shane Rahaman, Rayson Gill and Troy Bobb were the top three finishers in the men’s.
The tournament attracted 129 participants from six clubs and various dojos in Linden, Essequibo, East Demerara, New Amsterdam, East Coast of Demerara, West Bank Demerara and Georgetown. Harpy Eagle Martial Arts Clubs is the newest club to be affiliated with Federation and to also participate in the tournament. Harpy Eagle is located on the East Coast of Demerara.
