Siti Nur Sabrina Hj Makhdzar (R) kicks Hjh Siti Noradi Hidayati Hj Abas during the final of the female junior medium weight kumite event at yesterday's 1st SKBD Karatedo Championship. BT/Yee Chun Leong
There was plenty of talent at last weekend's 1st Shotokan Karatedo Brunei Darussalam (SKBD) Karatedo Championship.
The two-day inaugural tournament concluded yesterday with six events contested at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.
National coach Okhida Simangasing managed to catch the action and felt that there is plenty of potential available.
"This is a very good start for the sport with so many youngsters participating... It has only been around for a year and there are so many members," said Okhida in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.
"This tournament is good to prepare for future competitions of high level.
"There are also a lot of potential athletes who have a chance of making it into the national team in the future as well," added the Indonesian.
Mohd Dailami Hj Daud won the male junior lightweight kumite after defeating Md Hafiz Hj Sufri 3-2 in the final, with Akid Ali and Md Khairul Akmal Najib Ayub claiming the bronze medals.
In the female junior middleweight kumite, Siti Nur Sabrina Hj Makhdzar finished at the top of the podium after dispatching Hjh Siti Noradi Hidayati Hj Abas 7-0 in the final while the bronze medals went to the duo of Syafiqah Awang Mohd and Ummi Aqilah.
Muhaimin Zulkifli won 4-1 against Abd Hamiz Hamdan in the final of the male junior heavyweight kumite to take the gold while Hairol Hadri Harun and Hj Mohd Nur Aziz@Azri Hj Zainal shared bronze.
Over in the female junior lightweight kumite, Aufa Bazilah Hj Abdul Razak won gold beating Nurizzatul Safiqah 2-0 in the final.
The bronze medals were won by the pair of Nurhamizah Hj Medun and Liyana Nur Irdina.
Aufa Bazilah also managed a silver medal in the female junior kata after losing out to Hjh Siti Noradi Hidayati.
The pair of Syafiqah Mohammad and Amirah Syahidah Rahim shared bronze.
In the male junior kata, Mohd Zaheer Afie finished at the top of the podium followed by Mohd Ridhuan Hj Yusof.
The duo of Abd Rahim Johari and Mohd Dalami completed the podium with the bronze.
Present as the guest of honour to give away the medals to the winners was Pg Hj Yura Kesteria YAM Pg Setia Negera (Dr) Hj Md Yusuf, the president of the Brunei Darussalam Karate-do Federation (BRUKAF).
Founded in 2012, SKBD is affiliated with the Japan Karatedo Maruyoshikai Organisation (JKMO).
SKBD became the newest member of BRUKAF on December 23, 2012, in a ceremony attended by the president and founder of JKMO, Sasaki Toshiatsu.
