CEBUANO junior karatekas won nine golds, five silvers and 11 bronze medals during the recently concluded 7th Karatedo Goju-Kai Asia-Pacific Championships and Technical Seminar.
Leading the charge for Cebu were karatekas from the Sports Karatedo Organization (SKO) Pilipinas of Mandaue City and the Association for the Upliftment of Karatedo (AUK), especially in the Kumite (sparring) event. Seventeen-year-old Rose Mabel Seares led the haul after topping the Under 48 kilograms Women Juniors Kumite by sweeping the competition in Another young karateka who also made highlights during the competition is nine-year-old Joshua Narboada who left two Japanese fighters scoring none in his bouts in capturing the gold in the 7-9 years old Boys Kumite category.
Other gold medal winners are Alexis Carmeli Patalinghug (-35 kgs 10-11 years old Girl’s Kumite), Alexis Nicole Villacarlos (-40kg 10-11 Girls Kumite), Janine Narboada (-42kg 12-13 Girls Kumite), Enzo Nirel Hipulan (-40kg Boys Kumite), AJ Ala Villamor (-35 kgs 10-11 Boys Kumite), Maria Cassandra Samson (-47 kgs 16-17 Girls Kumite), and Jeremy Laurence Nopre. (JKV)