After three days of competing in Karate at the African Games in Accra – Ghana, Cameroon’s six-man team has emerged with a bronze medal.
Yoan Junior Dassi Tchouela won the lone medal, bronze, in the kumite individual male -67kg category to save Cameroon’s face in the competition.
Cameroon’s six karatekas participated in team kata, team kumite, individual kata and individual kumite.
Insufficient Preparation for Karate Team
The Coach of the karate ladies, Hermance Lotsi, explains that her team was very young with two of her three athletes participating at an international competition for the first time.
She however promised to keep training these ladies so as to obtain a better performance in upcoming competitions.
The Coach added that one of her best players could not participate in the African Games since she is held up with training sessions for another competition.
Her male counterpart, Blaise Pascal Kamte was of the same opinion about the limited time for Cameroon’s karate team to prepare.
“The team had just about five training sessions since most of them are dispersed across Cameroon,” he remarked.
The karatekas have extended their best wishes to the other athletes as they continue to defend the colours of the nation at the competition, while giving Cameroonians a rendezvous in the upcoming Central African Games.
Eleanor Ayuketah Ngochi on assignment in Accra – Ghana
