And, of course, Mr. Miagi approves!

ELIZABETH JOSEPH
Edwinia Kastoor

When we asked the boys how it felt to be part of something as huge as the Karate Championships they all responded saying that they felt so honored and happy, it was just one of those feelings you can’t describe but make you very happy.

National Karate teams from 7 countries in region 5 traveled to Swakopmund to take part in the event. The countries that competed in the Karate Championships were Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. Over 266 contestants competed for the position and title as the best in Southern Africa. After the 3 hard-fought battles, Namibia’s Talented Karate Team managed to once again secure its place in the top three countries with 19 gold, 25 silver and 61 bronze medals. South Africa was first with 28 gold, 25 silver and 29 bronze. Botswana came in second place with 25 gold, 21 silver and 21 bronze. We are so proud of the medal winners that represented our country with flying colors. Three of Duneside High School’s young and talented boys were part of the Namibian Karate team. They were Carlo Amia(15), Anthony Palmer(15) and Westley Marshall(17). They are well-known for their Karate skills here at our school as well as the Karate Community, and they are really good at what they do. One of the boys mentioned that “It was nerve wrecking, because I didn’t want to let my country down” Although there was so much pressure on them, our boys still excelled in what they loved and made their country very proud. Anthony Palmer received one silver medal for Kumite, Carlo Amia received one bronze for Kumite as well and Westley received two gold medals, one for Team Kata and one for Individual Kata. Westley qualified for The African Karate Championship (UFAK) which will take place from the 11th of July to the 14th of July In Gaborone, Botswana. He not only made the school proud, he made his father even prouder.