Double gold delight for karate
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday May 30, 2014 10:58
Setshego defeated his Congolese counterpart, Mbossa Iwandza 8-2 in the final of the boys’ Under-55kg individual kumite category to win gold.
However, it was beating fancied opponents from Egypt and Algeria enroute that inspired him to win gold.
The triumph sent Boipuso Hall into wild celebrations as spectators had waited patiently for the final after watching Setshego’s heroics against tough Egyptian and Algerian opponents on Wednesday. He beat Egyptian, Maleh Gomaa 3-0 in the first round before edging out Algeria’s Imad Ramoani 4-1 in a tightly contested fight.
He then went on to overcome Ruben Bakwo (from where) 8-0 in a one sided fight to qualify for the final against Iwandza. “The fights against Algeria and Egyptian opponents were the toughest.
To be honest, at first I did not think that I would be able to beat them. When I did, it gave me motivation,” he said. He said he was happy with his performance and promised to work even harder. Egyptian Gomaa settled for the bronze medal.
Setshego’s gold winning performance wrapped up what was relatively a good day for the country in karate events on Wednesday when Tlotlang Ponatshego scooped silver in the boys’ individual kata. Ponatshego lost to Egyptian opponent, Mohammed Zeyaha in the final.
He had defeated Congolese and Algerian opponents before losing in the final. South Africa’s Silvio Biagioni and Lybia’s Mohammed Jhari won bronze medals in the category. In the girls’ individual kumite, Botswana won a bronze medal through Wathuto Maake. The boys’ kata team, meanwhile won gold yesterday.