Karate’s bronze given thumbs up

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Friday 26th April 2013

 PNG Karate president Carl Mari commended the national men’s team for claiming bronze at the Australian Open Karate Championships. 

The tournament was held at the Whitlam Leisure Centre, in Liverpool, Sydney, from April 19-20.

In the challenge against Australia the senior male kumite team managed to win bronze. 

Australia went on to play China, winning gold, with China settling for silver.

The development team comprised Julius Piku (senior kata; 60kg kumite), Doris Karomo (seniors kata; 61kg and open kumite), Crystal Mari (cadet kata, cadet 53kg and cadet open kumite), Billy Junior (junior 60kg;  junior open kumite), Dominic Sipapi (senior 67kg; open kumite), Timothy Alovare (senior kata; 67kg kumite), Jimmy Pius (senior 60kg Kumite) and John Ali (senior 84Kg).  

The equal third placing was shared between Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. 

The team is part of the development squad for the 2015 Pacific Games to hosted by capitalcity, Port Moresby.

Mari was satisfied with the result, especially as there was a large pool of international athletes who took part in the event.  

“The athletes have actually learned a lot from the experience and we can only improve from this exposure,” Mari said.

He thanked the PNG Sports Federation & Olympic Committee for funding the trip through the Go 4 Gold programme.