Team Rage brings home medals from national kickboxing championships

Measured progress through silverware is small steps to a new route to the international elite.

Fighting under the Central Gauteng district banner, members of Team Rage Kickboxing Club recently participated in the South African Kickboxing Championships. Affiliated to the South African Kickboxing Association (SAKA), the World Association of Kickboxing Organisation (WAKO) accredited nationals were held in Pretoria from 29 to 31 October.

Team Rage entered five fighters and returned home being able to boast that all their combatants returned with a medal. Aslam Limbada who participated in the light contact and light kick events, brought home a bronze medal. Cole Langa and the team’s only female fighter, Mina Lombaard, each earned a silver medal in the full contact and light contact events.

The master and his apprentice were the gold medal winners, with father and son pair Darin and Dyllan Opperman standing atop the podium. Dyllan competed in the full contact and low kick events while Team Rage owner and coach, Darin, fought in the light contact and kick light category. “It is great for the club. We are also very proud of our Central Gauteng fighters who had great results this weekend,” said Darin.

In total, Central Gauteng had 12 medallists with six gold, five silver and two bronze. Kickboxing has recently received full Olympic recognition meaning plans are in the pipeline to get the world ready for Olympic kickboxing. An excited Darin said, “Big changes are coming in the sport. This is a great achievement for kickboxing worldwide as WAKO have been battling to get kickboxing recognised as an Olympic sport.”