World karate champs in Swakop this weekend

The eighth Japan Shotokan Karate Association (JSKA) world karate championship takes place in Swakopmund this weekend.
A media statement issued earlier this month by the chief instructor of the Namibia Shotokan Karate Academy, Willem Burger, said the event will take place at the Dome Indoor Sport Centre on Friday and Saturday. Twelve countries have so far registered to take part - Japan, Scotland, England, Germany, Switzerland, Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Czech Republic, Kenya and Palestine.
The international teams were expected to arrive in Namibia by yesterday at the latest, after which master training courses would be presented by karate masters from all over the world at the Dome.
The training was due to start yesterday and conclude today.
The main event will start on Friday morning at 08:00.
Burger said the hosting of the world championship in Namibia is not only a major milestone for the country, but also an opportunity for all Namibia karateka to participate at international level as the cost of travel to participate in other countries is prohibitive.
The JSKA World Karate Championships are held every two years and the Namibia Shotokan Karate Academy has been taking part since 2004.
Namibia won 12 medals in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2004; 15 medals in New York in 2006; five medals in Portimao, Portugal, in 2010 and 26 medals in Cancun, Mexico, in 2012.
During the 2014 championships in Terni, Italy, the Namibians won 56 medals.

NAMPA