The Guyana Karate Federation (GKF) hosted the 2019 National Junior Karate Championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Sunday June 2, 2019 in celebration of the 53rd Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Guyana.
Competing in the Male 6-8 Years – Kata, Jian Hong Zhang, Nathan Narine and Nick Sookdeo copped 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively. In the Male 6-8 Years- Kumite, Mohamed Matthews bagged 1st, while Jason Abraham and Nick Sookdeo settled for 2nd and 3rd places respectively.
Some of the participants pose with their medals
In the Female 6-8 Years- Kata, Clair Persaud, Sarah Alli and Jazara Hewett placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively; while in the Kumite, Persaud and Alli took 1st and 2nd places and Amaya Jairam took 3rd.
In the Male 9-11 Years Kata, Jose Rodrigues, Jeremy Hargobin and Uthan Henry placed first to third respectively; while, in the 40kg category, Reshaun Ulla, Nigel Clarke and Chudaman Persaud were able to place first to third respectively.
In the 40+kg category, Diego De Nobrega, Jose Rodrigues and Daniel Elliott placed first to third respectively.
For the females, in the Kata exercises, the top 3 were Anya Insanally, Amara Nandan and Chelsea Benjamin in that order; while, in the Kumite, Anya Insanally, Anaaya Jain and Oshana Quamina placed first to third in that order.
In the Male 12-14 years Kata, Shamar Francis, Luke Seabra and Rohit Isri placed first to third respectively; while for the 45 kg Kumite, Shamar Francis, Jamar Pile and Nakshatra Persaud placed from first to third in that order. In the 45+kg Kumite exercise, coming out on top were Doodnauth Jairam, Jonathan Ng-A-Fook and Luke Seabra in that order.
In the female category, exceptional performances came from Taissa DeNobrega, Riana Narine and Annalisa Persaud in that order; while the Kumite category saw Riana Narine, Aaliyah Nelson and Jilnell Abraham emerging victors in that order.
In the Female 15-17 years Kata and Kumite events, Gavena Doodnauth was the lone standout performer. In the final category, notable performances came from Michael Hing, Alanzo Pierre and Kevin Bradford.
The best female contestant was adjudged to be Anya Insanally, while the best male contestant was adjudged Shamar Francis.
