05 Apr 2023

Organisers of the annual Gabs Open International Karate championship have promised to deliver a bigger and better tournament over the long weekend.

Top karate bouts and carefully synchronised kata moves will be the order of the day at Botho University multipurpose hall on Saturday.

Speaking in an interview this week, one of the organisers, Sensei Ofentse Bakwadi said international karatekas from Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa had confirmed participation. 

The 12th edition of the tournament looks set to be more exciting given the line up.

Fresh from an impressive performance at the continent’s biggest karate showpiece, the African Karate Championship, held in Durban in December, the new kings and queens of regional karate will look to be crowned again.

A top drawer match is expected in the elite male individual kumite where two African medalists in the mould of Quinton Mosupiemang of Botswana and South African karate sportsman of the year Aiden Jackson will come face to face.

Mosupiemang inched past the exciting youngster in Durban, but lost the gold medal after falling off the last hurdle against Moroccan Said Oubaya. It will be an exciting rematch.

High tempo action is also expected in the male individual kata category which will present the likes of Commonwealth U21 champion Kagiso Mophuting.

Mophuting is expected to face tough opposition from the likes of Boemo Ramasimong who is in perfect shape.

Another hard nut to crack in the male kata is Thabo Letshwiti who is currently leading the pack on points for national team selection.

Other exciting bouts lined up are the U-67kg category, which will pit the likes of Teto Wakwena against Gabriel Ramasimong.

In the ladies class top drawer action is expected when Zone 6 champions Centy Kgosikoma, Lethabo Sekano and Lesego Masimolola come face to face. It will be exciting to see how well-oiled the trio is as they prepare for the final selections in a few weeks. Ends