Karate stakeholders laud Shokotan tourney
By Ifeanyi Eduzor
Karate stakeholders in the country have described the just concluded Nigerian Association of Shokotan Karate ‘For All Ages’ championship held at the indoor sports hall of Teslim Balogun, Stadium as a huge success even as they expressed optimism that the experience garnered by athletes at the one day event will help improve their skills in the sports.
Speaking to our correspondent, ex- athletes and senior instructors with the association, Martins Isaac and John Ogwo noted that the tournament organised annually is one of the few major championships put together to develop karate in the country just as they expressed happiness that the competition has bounced back to life after a break that was caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
” We’re happy that after COVID which affected virtually every aspect of life the association was able to put up the tournament and as you can see the enthusiasm is overwhelming and all the athletes and officials happy that Karate is once again bubbling with activities.
” You know that a lot of people have been looking forward for competition like this because they’ve been training alone and we are happy with the level of competition and improvement among the athletes and officials”, they said.
On how to make karatekers win laurels for the country at international competitions, they appealed to government and corporate organisations to invest more in the sport as well as provide the most modern training kits to enhance in the development of the skills of the athletes.
” Producing good athletes goes beyond training and their skills because the world is now technologically advanced and they must understand the current trend involved in the sports.
“There is need for these athletes to be adequately exposed by sponsoring them to major tournaments while the officials will also have opportunity to go for seminars and refresher courses and that’s why we’re appealing to government and corporate organisations to do the needful and invest in karate”, they concluded.
In their own remarks two athletes Mrs. Ogu Ideh and Tolulope Akintan stated that the competition afforded them opportunity to improve their game and commended the organisers for a job well done.
The championship attracted more than 200 athletes from various karate club sides and academies. At the end of the event, medals and certificates where awarded to participants.
