Karate kicks on

 IT was an exciting day for Karate Team PNG, according to coach Trevor Roberts, pictured.

Today, PNG with six competitors – three men and three women – will take on Samoa, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna and Fiji.

Roberts told The National at the Taurama Aquatic Centre yesterday: “It’s going to be very interesting for both male and female competitors who made the finals tomorrow. It was very intense today,” Roberts said. 

“Unfortunately, we had to settle for silver with Bougen Vincent Quentin in the male individual Kumite 84kg,” Roberts said.

 “It was just a matter of a bond flag, we only needed another flag to tip the balance our way, but we had to settle for silver,” he said. 

The uramowasi (point) unfortunately saw both competitors go at same time, and one referee was unsighted, while the other saw the action from one angle.

“If the flag was put up, the gold should be Quentin’s but New Caledonia’s Annonier Mathieu bagged the gold, while Kuru Selwyn of the Solomon Islands picked up the bronze medal.”

Roberts said even though they felt they were right to appeal to or petition the referee they could not because the rules did not allow for that.

With intense competition in the different weight categories from under-50kg to 84kg plus at the Games karate events PNG ended up with silver and bronze medals, with team work and focus the priority for Roberts said.

Results: Female Individual Kata; gold (New Caledonia), silver (Fiji), bronze (PNG and Vanuatu); Female Individual Kumite +68kg: gold Tehaameamea Vailtiare (Tahiti), silver Gewa Bianca Rupa (PNG); Female Individual Kumite -50kg: gold Lango Vamule Vassy Mata (Vanuatu), Silver Jacklyn Barney (PNG); Female Individual Kumite -68kg: gold Bakani Naomi (Fiji), silver Rambans Romina (New Caledonia), bronze Gwai Janet Lydia (Solomon Islands), Karomo Doris (PNG); Female team Kata: gold (Fiji), silver (New Caledonia), bronze ( PNG); Male Individual Kata: gold (New Caledonia), silver (Fiji), bronze (PNG and Tahiti); Male Individual Kumite + 84kg:  gold (New Caledonia), silver (Vanuatu), bronze (Fiji and Solomon Islands); Male Individual Kumite -67kg: gold (Fiji), silver (New Caledonia), bronze (Solomon Islands); Male Individual Kumite -84kg:  gold Annonier Mathieu (New Caledonia), silver Bougan Vincent Quentin (PNG), bronze Solomon Islands and Wallis and Futuna; Male Team Kata: gold (New Caledonia), silver (Fiji), and bronze (PNG).