Ghana Excel at C’wealth Karate-Do

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Council (NSC), Mr. Worlanyo Agra, has commended the National Karate-Do team and its technical team for winning five laurels at the just ended fifth Commonwealth Karate-Do Championship held Johannesburg, South Africa.

“It is a great achievement and I am very proud of you, we can assure you that whatever you will do will be supported,” he stressed.

According to him, the team’s achievement is a sign that the nation is doing well in the lesser known sports, especially when the tournament was the nation’s first participation since its inception, adding that Ghana is becoming an epitome of sports, citing the great victory of the Satellites.

Mr. Agra, said these when the team led by Mr Michael Nunoo, chairman of the Karate-Do Association, paid a courtesy call on him to present the medals won at the competition. The tournament which was held on October 15-17 had over 1500 participants from 16 countries with Ghana presenting a 10-man team drawn from the senior and junior cadet and the U-20.

The team performed in the open and elite championships where karate-do clubs and organization from the countries light each other. That of the elite championship is the inter-countries competition. Young karate-do gem, Felix Donkor of the junior cadet won silver and a bronze medal in the elite and open championships respectively.

Jerry Williams, Noah Agbeko, and Victor Lartey of the senior cadet team won bronze medals each. In addition, the team’s technical director, Mr Saadisu Mamah Iddrisu, who is also a referee, was awarded a gold medal for an impressive officiating throughout the tournament. The other participants are Shaquille Martey, Victor Ford, Nii Arko BoiDoku, Nasiru Alhassa, Patrick Amakye, and Godwin Nii Aryee Tetteh, They said the tournament was a successful one because they have learnt new ways of fighting. Speaking to the Times Sports, Coach Kwabena Poku said the performance of the team was very encouraging and the competition has shaped and given them new dintensions toward a similar competition ahead in Ivory Coast.

Also, Mr. Michael Nunoo revealed that plans are underway to put in place a karate-do league that will involve females so that equal opportunity will be given them. South Africa was adjudged winner of the competition.