Karatekas Performances Excite Rivers Coach

Rivers State karate coach leader, Kingsley Yacob O. Ewelie has declared his happiness over the performance of his athletes at the just-concluded 4-day National Karate Open Championship/ Technical Referee and coaching course held in Owerri, Imo State.

Emelie made this declaration at the weekend during an exclusive chat with Tidesports at the Karate Gymnasium of the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt.

Accordinf to him, the Rivers Karate team performed excellently during the championship. He noted that, both the female and male Karatekas did very well in the individual and team kata event.

He continued that since the year 2006, Rivers has dominated the National Sports Festival and two times National Open Karate Champions.

He maintained that the team would not relent on the good works they have started, saying that, the state Karate Association would continue to sustain the tempo in subsequent engagements.

“Rivers Karatekas are in high spirits and are working assiduously to ensure that they win more laurels in the forthcoming 17th National Sports fiesta tagged Garden City Games 2011,” said leader Ewelie.

Events competed in at the Open Championship include team kata for male and female, individual kata, (male/female), Kumite (team) male and female and individual kumite.

However, Rivers State clinched second position in female kata to earn a silver medal, while individual kata and kumite (female), Kate Ukaki won silver medal.

Also in kata, favour Orumta won silver, Victoria Bassey (55kg) gold and Vivian Kalada won second silver.

In the male kumite Hope Adele Tople, + 84kg won a gold.

It would be recalled that Rivers male did not participate in team kata and the silver won by the female team kata event was the first ever by the state in the history of the National Open Karate.