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NEARLY 200 Namibian karate athletes of all ages gathered at Swakopmund on Saturday for the first Swakop Open Tournament hosted by the Shotokan Karate Academy, Swakopmund.
According to the academy’s founder, Sensei Valdemar Swart, it was his lifelong dream to host an open tournament where any karate athlete affiliated to any style of karate can enter and participate against each other in a friendly and controlled environment.
The tournament featured two disciplines: the traditional side of karate for the style athletes, and the sport competition based on World Karate Federation rules for all styles of karate.
“The event was to grant karate athletes of Namibia the opportunity to get additional competition floor time and exposure. It also aimed at offering the referees, judges and table officials time to better their skills,” Swart told The Namibian.
Besides an opportunity for the athletes, the event also provided an opportunity for spectators to see some of Namibia’s top karatekas in action, such as Suzelle Pronk, who is ranked in the top 100 in the world and won the silver medal in the All African Championships last year.
Athletes from as far as Lüderitz and Gobabis participated, as well as those from Windhoek, the coast and other towns. In total, 170 athletes participated in both disciplines from four years old to 30 years old.
Swart noted that the event also gave the “little ones” the opportunity to strut their stuff, with the aim to one day represent their country internationally in the sport.
He is confident that the Swakop Open will pave the way for an international tournament, which includes neighboyuring countries, from next year, for the benefit of karate Namibia.
Freddy Mwiya, the chief administrator at the Namibia Sports Commission, attended the tournament. He told The Namibian that the event was important to Namibia because karate is one of the developing sports, and he hopes that it would lead to more opportunities for national karatekas, such as selection for national teams.
“The future of karate in Namibia looks promising, and it is hoped that events like this will continue to provide opportunities for personal development and growth in the sport,” he said.
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