Nam wins 36 gold medals at Kyokushin champs

The second edition of the African Kyokushin Karate Championship concluded in Windhoek on Sunday, with hosts Namibia dominating the competition by claiming a remarkable 36 gold medals across kumite and kata events in various age and weight categories.

Tunisia, who entered four competitors, followed in second place with six gold medals, while Zambia secured four, Angola took home three, Guinea earned two and South Africa claimed the remaining single gold medal of the tournament.

The continental showpiece, sanctioned by the Kyokushin World Union (KWU), was organised by the Namibia Kyokushin Karate Organisation (NKKO). The championship ran from Friday to Sunday at Crete Gymnastics Club’s venue in Maerua Mall, drawing athletes from ten visiting countries to test their strength, discipline and determination in pursuit of victory.

Namibian team instructor, Sensei Luke Yumo, expressed immense pride in his athletes. “I'm very proud of the performance of our athletes. They showed exceptional skill and discipline,” he said.

Yumo emphasised the team's continued commitment: “The KWU secretary-general, Shihan Aleksandr has already highlighted next year’s world championship, and we are ready. Team Namibia is coming, and we are coming to scoop more medals and trophies. Osu!”

Runners-up Tunisia’s head coach Shihan Ali Ghabbech expressed pride in the team’s performance and indicated that martial fighters are united in supporting a stronger Africa.

“I am so proud of my team. We had four competitors and won four gold medals in kumite, two gold medals in kata, one silver and one bronze. They competed very well, showing great technique and tactics, and they were very strict in their execution,” Ghabbech said.

KUMITE RESULTS

Boys 14-15 years (65kg)

1 Jeremiah Ilukena (NAM), 2 Mathew Haipare (NAM), 3 Prince Mushendami (NAM)

Boys 12-15 years (45kg)

1 Shane Neema (NAM), 2 Mohamed Keita (Guinea), 3 Kabirie Cisse (Guinea).

Women 18 (±65kg)

1 Asma Ben Hassen (Tunisia), 2 Kashmiya Tembo (Zambia).

Women 18 (±60kg)

1 Ones Saiddani (Tunisia), 2 Jemimah Mangaba (NAM)

Men Veteran (35 years, open weight class)

1 Bangaly Conde (Guinea), 2 Bennette Mungalaba (Zambia)

Boys 14-15 years (60kg)

1 Mnqobi Mabaso (South Africa), 2 Stenio Monder (Angola)

Boys 10-11 years (55kg)

1 Tangeni Nanyeni (NAM), 2 Nathan Muchila (NAM)

Boys 8-9 years (25kg)

1 Tuhafeni Namoloh (NAM), 2 Nicholas Shilongo (NAM)

Boys 4-5 years (30kg)

1 Prince Amadhila (NAM), 2 Nathaniel Iiyambo (NAM)

Men 18 (±70kg)

1 Alex Ilukena (NAM), 2 Thabiso Tshabalala (South Africa), 3 Appiah Gerard (Guinea), 4 Sako Keita (Guinea)

Boys 8-9 years (30kg)

1 Ethan Nyambe (NAM), 2 Jaydan Kahuva (NAM), 3 Christopher /Gaoseb (NAM), 4 Elijah Shoko (NAM)

Boys 10-11 years (30kg)

1 King David Mwampamba (NAM), 2 Tangi Neputa (NAM), 3 Ombili Neputa (NAM), 4 Tshagwana Daniel Indombo (NAM)

Girls 6-7 years (25kg)

1 Hilma Amukushu (NAM), 2 Anny Inema (NAM)

Men 18 (±90kg)

1 Francedi Keita (Guinea), 2 Melvin Nyambe (NAM)

Men 18 (±60kg)

1 David Mweemba (Zambia), 2 Innocent Njobvu (Zambia), 3 Nhlakanipho Zondi (South Africa), 4 Paul Daka (Zambia)

Men 18 (±80kg)

1 Youssef Hadj Mohamed (Tunisia), 2 Facely Konate (Guinea), 3 Mory Conde (Guinea)

Men 18 (±65kg)

1 Mulenga Mwamba (Zambia), 2 Mubiana Sam (NAM), 3 Lungisani Mabaso (South Africa), 4 Mamady Camara (Guinea)

Boys 7-8 years (40kg)

1 Elijah Hitilisha (NAM), 2 Shawn Neema (NAM), 3 Festus T. Niinane (NAM)

Girls 4-5 years (25kg)

1 Reign Ngwirima (NAM)

Boys 6-7 years (25kg)

1 Alessandro Severin (NAM)

Boys 12-13 years (30kg)

1 Evidence Shaningwa (NAM)

Boys 8-9 years

1 Alexis Hewicke (NAM)

Boys 10-11 years (55kg)

1 Stallone Monder (Angola)

Girls 12-13 years (±50kg)

1 Renate Ndumba (NAM)

Girls 12-13 years (±80kg)

1 Courtney Melani (NAM)

Boys 10-11 years (-45kg)

1 Lubanda Lubanda (NAM)

Girls 12-13 years (-45kg)

1 Karen Nyambe (NAM)

Girls 6-7 years (±30kg)

1st (tied): Evelina Jonas (NAM), Thandiwe Maposa (NAM).

Girls 14-15 years (60kg)

1 Kayla Burger (NAM)

Boys 16-17 years (75kg)

1 Omar Omri (Tunisia)

KATA RESULTS

Women (Black Belt)

1 Jemimah Mangaba (NAM), 2 Asma Ben Hassen (Tunisia)

Women (Green – Brown Belt)

1 Ones Saiddani (Tunisia)

Women Beginner

1 Sharleen Mofila (NAM), 2 Yanessa De Olivera (Angola), 3 Kayleen Mofila (NAM), 4 Ambronisse Beukes (NAM)

Girls 14-15 years Intermediate

1 Lucy Iipinge (NAM), 2 Kayla Burger (NAM)

Girls 11-13 years Intermediate

1 Karen Nyambe (NAM), 2 Renate Ndumba (NAM), 3 Allison Kavela (NAM)

Girls 11-13 years Advanced

1 Courtney Melani (NAM)

Girls 9-10 years Intermediate

1 Aileen Kavela (NAM)

Girls 7-8 years Beginner

1 Thandiwe A. Maposa (NAM), 2 Hilma Amukushu (NAM), 3 Kelly Bruna (NAM), 4 Chamilla Diergaardt (NAM)

Girls 4-6 years Beginner

1 Maria van der Heever (NAM), 2 Reign Ngwirima (NAM)

Men (Black Belt)

1 Paul Daka (Zambia), 2 Lungasani Mabaso (South Africa), 3 Youssef Hadj Mohamed (Tunisia), 4 Alex Ilukena (NAM)

Men Intermediate

1 Mulenga Mwamba (Zambia)

Boys (-17 years) Black Belt

1 Omar Omri (Tunisia), 2 Mathew Haipare (NAM)

Boys Green Belt to Brown Belt

1 Stenio Monder (Angola), 2 Loongeleni Nekongo (NAM), 3 Daylight /Uirab (NAM), 4 Jeremiah Ilukena (NAM)

Boys 14-16 years Intermediate

1 Prince Mushendami (NAM)

Boys 11-13 years Intermediate

1 Tshagwana Indombo (NAM), 2 Evidence Shaningwa (NAM), 3 Chibinda E. Munsaka (NAM), 4 Christopher Matanda (NAM)

Boys 9-10 years Beginner

1 Lindrowski Tibinyane (NAM), 2 Lubanda Lubanda (NAM), 3 Nathan Muchila (NAM), 4 King David Mwampamba (NAM)

Boys 9-10 years Intermediate

1 Stallone Monder (Angola), 2 Jaydan Kahuva (NAM), 3 Rody Tjihero (NAM), 4 Roman Chilela (NAM)

Boys 7-8 years Beginner

1 Tuhafeni Namoloh (NAM), 2 Chisomo Ngwirima (NAM), 3 Kyle Klim (NAM), 4 Blessing Ndumba (NAM)

Boys 7-8 years Intermediate

1 Elijah Hitilisha (NAM), 2 Festus T. Niinane (NAM), 3 Daniel Ellitson (NAM), 4 Elijah Shoko (NAM)

Boys 7-8 years Advanced

1 Ethan Nyambe (NAM), 2 Shawn Neema (NAM), 3 Sem Kadhikwa (NAM), 4 Christopher /Gaoseb (NAM)

Boys 4-6 years Beginner

1 Prince Amadhila (NAM), 2 Ndakomani Jacobs (NAM), 3 Shayden Kahuva (NAM), 4 Nathaniel Iiyambo (NAM)