Mom of two scoops bronze in global karate tourney

AMANZIMTOTI High School old girl, Alette du Plessis scooped a bronze medal at the Kimura Shukokai international karate world championships held at Sun City Superbowl from 21 to 25 July.

Alette who is employed at the Department of Transport in Pietermaritzburg, was one of 400 competitors from 20 countries who participated in the prestigious event. She was selected to represent SA in four categories; individual kumite (fighting), unison kata, individual kata and the SA women’s B team for the team kumite event. Alette was the only veteran who competed in this tough team challenge which was extremely competitive.

All her hard and diligent training and family sacrifices she made while pursuing her dream to represent South Africa at international level paid off when she won a bronze medal in the individual kumite event and narrowly missed bronze in the unison kata event.

The 39-year-old a mother of two trained extremely hard in the past nine months to be fully prepared for the tough challenges at the competition. Being a member of the SA karate squad, she was required to attend national training camps in Gauteng at least once a month over and above her own vigorous training commitments in KZN. She also voluntarily assists with coaching at the Merchiston Preparatory School twice a week, whereafter she commences with her own training at Carter High School.

She thanks her coaches, family and friends who supported her throughout her training regime to achieve success at the highest level.