Bedfordview’s Goju team shines at national championships
“That makes us one of the most successful dojos in the country in terms of medal count.”
Goju Kai Ekurhuleni Karate Academy in Bedfordview bagged 40 medals at the South Africa League Championships held in Cape Town between April 14 to 15.
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The dojo members won 22 gold, eight silver and 10 bronze medals bringing home 11 national titles from the first league champs of the year.
Shihan Russell Sim, the head instructor of the academy, said, “That makes us one of the most successful dojos in the country in terms of medal count, and it is a testament to the hard work put in by the athletes and their coaches to prepare for this championship.
“This was an important tournament for the students as it was the final selection for the South African Protea team which will compete in an international against the best karate-ka from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Angola.
“They all did very well and a number of them are now in line to earn their national karate colours. This is the highest honour for a South African karateka, and having so many qualify is amazing.”
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Individual results were as follows:
Sensei Jesse Sim – gold medals for kata and team kata
Sensei Bongi Ngwenya – gold medal for team kata
Sensei Brad Ho-Tong – gold medal for team kata
Senpai Tayla Murray – gold medal for team kata
Senpai Mikayla Alves – gold medals for kumite and team kumite
Senpai Connor Hundermark – gold medal for team kata
Suzaan Botha – gold medal for team kata, silver medal for kumite and bronze medal for kata
Kate Ward – gold medal for team kata
Jazmin Turton – gold medal for team kata, silver medal for kata and bronze medal for kumite
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Chloe Keartland – gold medal for team kata, silver medal for kumite and bronze medal for kata
Gabriella Toweel – gold medals for team kata and kata, and bronze medal for kumite
AJ van der Merwe – gold medal for team kata and bronze medal for kumite
Mathew Soares – gold medal for team kata and bronze medal for kata
Stefan van der Merwe – gold medal for team kata, silver medal for kumite and bronze medal for kata
Tyler Kabali-Kagwa – gold medals for team kata, kata and kumite
Praneel Ramjee – gold medal for team kata and silver medal for kumite
Cristiano Coelho – silver medals for kata and kumite
Izabella Turton – silver medal for kumite and bronze medal for kata
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Lilly Loots – gold medal for kumite
Gugu Ndebele – bronze medal for kumite
Aidan Falls – bronze medal for kata
This tournament was the final selection for the South African national team which will compete in an international tournament against the best karate-ka from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Angola.
The following members of the dojo have been selected for the South African karate team to compete in the
Region South Southern African Championships to be held in Zimbabwe in June: Sensei Jesse Sim, Sensei Bongi Ngwenya, Sensei Bradley Ho-Tong, Gabriella Toweel, Chloe Keartland, Jazmin Turton, Stefan van der Merwe,
Praneel Ramjee, Tyler Kabali-Kagwa, Cristiano Coelho, Lillian Loots, Izabella Turton, Gugulam Ndebele and Senpai Mikayla Alves.
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Connor Hundermark, Suzaan Botha, Giancarlo Ferrante, Mathew Soares and Nomthandazo Ndebele were selected to compete for the Karate South Africa B-side at the same tournament.