BOKA excited after Olympics inclusion
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday October 2, 2015 11:59
BOKA president, David Mathe told Mmegi Sport that the World Karate Federation (WKF) has been proposing that karate be included as an Olympic sport for a long time.
He said the inclusion of the sport comes at the right time. Mathe said any country hosting the games is allowed to include any extra code that is not included in the programme. He said China has since agreed to include karate.
“The International Olympic Committee has since invited WKF to demonstrate how the matches will be conducted, which includes the scoring, fouls and safety,” he said. “We just have to convince them that the sport is safe just like any other.”
Mathe said qualification stages are already in place such as zonal and continental competitions. The latest developments would mean regulations have to be standard.
Meanwhile, Botswana sent a karate team to the Commonwealth Karate Championships held in New Delhi, India recently. Mathe said the team comprised athletes under the Zebra and Elite sponsorships.
The decision was taken as a way of giving them exposure, and the team did well despite facing stiff competition. Botswana won gold medal through Boitumelo Koone, and two silver medals through Khaya Groth. Both men and women teams brought home bronze medals while Mohammed Khan and Thato Malunga pocketed bronze medals in kata. ,” Tlhaselo said. “We have stopped them from playing because we want them to concentrate on their examinations.”
He said big clubs showed interest in recruiting some Dynamites players, but he advised the youngsters to thread carefully because playing for a big club was not easy. He added that Dynamites players should appreciate that age was on their side.
Tlhaselo said the first round of the league was tough as Dynamites failed to honour some matches because some players were absent.