KARATE Fiji is on track for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, after having a successful season this year.
Association president Angela Birch said as a growing sport they continued to pursue the best for their athletes, officials and supporters.
“The news received from the World Karate Federation (WKF) on August 16, following the confirmation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Karate has been included as a demonstration sport for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, has only continued to spur the enthusiasm of KF’s administrators and officials to support the athletes,” she said.
“Although Cyclone Winston saw the cancellation of Karate Fiji’s opening season championship in February, monthly training sessions for the national training squad, in addition to what was being taught at the respective affiliated Dojos, saw KF participate at mentor coach, Sensei Tony Hails’ camp, in March in Wollongong, Australia. We also hosted the annual National Championship in August in Suva and represented at the Oceania Championship in September in Noumea, New Caledonia; and the World Senior Championship in October in Linz, Austria.”
She said local athletes and referees were also exposed to the international competition. The team competed in the Oceania Karate Championship in Noumea from September 15-18.
“Comprising a mix of senior and upcoming athletes, Tevita Tamanigaunatawamudu, Joji Veremalua, John Ratuloco, Pita Ratuloco, Senia Mua and Meri-Paul Ratuloco, returned with one gold, one silver and three bronze medals from the event. In winning Gold, Joji Veremalua automatically qualified for the World Games in Wroclaw, Poland in late July 2017,” Birch said.
“The sole referee from Fiji at the event, Lemeki Lenoa, returned as an OKF accredited referee/ judge B.
“This involved Lemeki first being assessed at the Australian Open in April, where two World Karate Federation (WKF) referees, which included the chairman of the WKF technical commission, Sensei Con Kassis, deemed Lemeki adept to pursue his OKF accreditation at the OKC.
“Sensei Con Kassis encouraged Lemeki to attend the World Senior Championship in Linz, Austria from 26-30 October, which he did. Lemeki, a team of two coaches David Qiolevu and Pita Lenoa, athletes Tevita Tamanigaunatawamudu and Joji Veremalua, represented Fiji at the event, the latter enjoying his debut at this level of competition.”
Meanwhile, Lenoa renewed his coaching accreditation after becoming the first person from the region to achieve his WKF Kata and Kumite coaching accreditation in 2013.
