10 Apr 2023

Botswana karatekas who hosted their region five counterparts showed determination and perfectly coordinated kata moves at this year’s Gabs Open championships.

The Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) sanctioned tournament was hosted by Hayashi Ha Botswana Karate Union at Botho College Multipurpose Hall in Gaborone.

The 12th instalment of the annual tournament attracted a considerable number of karatekas, who displayed their nippy moves from the onsett.

The final bouts were even more interesting with a number of shocking results.

Kao Nsala, who has been in fine form, repeated his feat when he scooped the individual junior kata.

The youthful kata sensation beat Namibian Justin Scholtz to the first spot while Lefika Mooketsi and Tanyawara Ziwira of Zimbabwe scooped bronze.

Another exciting karateka from the SSKB club, Martin Motseke, was crowned champion in the Under 21 open kata beating Mogomotsi Kolobe and Setso Sebina.

South African, Jody Williams, convinced all the judges in the senior male kumite beating Jack Kwabata in the final match.

Williams was denied by high riding kata champion, Thabo Letshwiti, from scooping double gold when he stopped him in the senior male individual kata.

It was a shocking result for Commonwealth medalists, Kagiso Mophuting, and Boemo Ramasimong who watched in disbelief as they came third respectively.

In an interview on the side lines of the tournament, which started Saturday until Sunday, one of the organisers, Sensei Ofentse Bakwadi said the event went well and that it was a great success.

“We had all the athletes who had promised to take part and the numbers were overwhelming.  One interesting aspect was that those who were expected to perform well continued with their rich vein of form and with a few shocking results,” said Bakwadi.

Bakwadi said they were impressed by the overall organisation of the matches and were planning to organise a more bigger and better event in the near future. ENDS