29 June 2007 By Kristina Mah
The Australian Open Karate Championships were held in Caloundra, Queensland on the 27th to 29th of April 2007. This competition is the first of the 2 major national competitions held in Australia. The other is the National Karate Championships that will be held in Sydney this year in August. These major tournaments bring together the best karate-ka in the country and serve in providing the bench mark for the athletes who are attempting selection for the National Squad.
USYD had 5 student-athletes competing nationally in sports karate. All 5 competitors are veteran NSW State Team representatives who have been training for many years.
On the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June, The National Karate Squad Training Camp was held to determine who would be selected to represent the Australian side in Turkey. Only one competitor is selected per division.
Of these 5, Tsuneari and Chanakyah were eligible for selection (due to age criteria). They were successful! And the boys will compete for the Junior National Team at the Junior World Karate Championships in October this year. The competition will be held in Istanbul, Turkey. This competition is restricted to competitors under 20 years old.
All 5 athletes are expected to be competing for a place on the Senior National Team that will be going to the Senior World Championships in Japan 2008.
Congratulations to the Tsuneari and Chunky for being selected to represent our country!
Good Luck to all of the athletes who are training for the upcoming National Championships! We expect great result as usual!
Results from the Australian Open Karate Championships
Mohamed Rajab:
Junior Male Under 70kg Kumite - Bronze
Tsuneari Yahiro:
Junior Male Under 60kg Kumite - GOLD
Junior Male Kata - Silver
Senior Male Under 60kg Kumite - GOLD
Chanakyah Sandiliah:
Junior Male Kata - Bronze
Senior Male Under 65kg Kumite - Bronze
Junior Male Under 65kg Kumite - Silver
Kristina Mah:
Senior Female Under 60kg Kumite - GOLD
Senior Female OPEN Kumite - GOLD
Senior Female Open Kata - Silver