NEW Caledonia has set its sights on winning seven gold medals at the Oceania Karate Championships which begins today at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.
The team of 19 athletes arrived in the country earlier this week and trained at the Yat Sen Secondary School Hall in Suva.
Team coach Gregory Panne said every athlete would try to win their competition in both the kata and kumite categories.
“But looking at the athletes, we can win five medals — two in kata and five in kumite,” he said.
“All the athletes are based in New Caledonia and one coach is from New Caledonia while the other is from France.
“We have a young squad and only five really experienced athletes in kumite and three in kata.”
Papua New Guinea on the other hand does not have a medal target but their aim is to win at least a few.
Team coach Sensei Trevor Roberts said they had a team of 32 athletes that were looking for good exposure since they would be hosting the Pacific Games next year.
“We didn’t win any gold medals at the last Oceania Championships so this time we would like to win a few,” he said.
“Since taking over 18 months ago, I have taught some new skills and I am hoping it has sunk in and we can do better than last time.
“It’s all about preparing for our Pacific Games and we are down on a few good fighters so we will try and do our best.”
Meanwhile, World Karate Federation (WKF) president Antonio Espinos arrived in Fiji last night and will attend the Oceania Championships.
This is the first time that the president of the parent body of the sport in the world has visited Fiji and attended the Oceania event.
Oceania Karate and Karate Fiji president Makarita Lenoa said it was a huge milestone for the sport in the country and the Pacific.
“This visit will mark an end of his visits of all five major regional competitions around the world in 2014,” she said.
“We will definitely have talks with him on how WKF can assist Fiji and the other countries in Oceania to help raise the profile of the sport.”
Fiji would be represented by 37 athletes and three officials at the event.
