Nikita Clarke most impressive at senior karate championships
Kaieteur News
November 14, 2006
Nikita Clarke captured both the female Kata (form) and Kumite (fighting) Under-52kg titles to lead the standouts at the Guyana Karate Federation's Senior National Championships, staged last Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Other impressive performances came from Marvin Singh in the male Kata, as well as Manzoor Ali and Neville Holder in the male Kumite.
The programme, which featured seven categories, opened with a parade of competitors, while Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steve Ninvalle, deputising for the Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, declared the event open.
This was followed by a demonstration of two Black belt forms, led by 4th Dan Instructor Christopher Chavez.
The action opened with the female Kata and Clarke immediately caught the eye with her techniques in the forms she chose, and duly secured the title ahead of Mena Chetty with Tamika Nicolas, third.
Among the males, an outstanding display from Singh earned him top honours, with Troy Parboo finishing second and Balram Singh in the other podium position.
The action then switched to the Kumite, in which Clarke defeated Roxanne Rodrigues for the title, with Tamika Nicholas clinching third. In the ladies 52kg and over department, Karen Stoby used an effective counter attack in beating Marcia Wilkinson to the title, while Lorraine Harris took the third position.
An unfazed Manzoor Ali produced a calculated fighting display to claim the crown in the men's Under-60kg division, beating Paul Ramdeen in the final. Rockcliff Sue-Too placed third.
Neville Holder employed excellent aggression throughout his preliminary rounds and in the championship bout against Christopher Waddell, had a worthy opponent, but eventually claimed the Under-65kg title by outscoring his rival in the latter stages of a highly entertaining contest.
Holder registered key blows in the final 20 seconds of the bout after the scores were tied at that stage. Balram Singh was third.
The final category, the 65kg and over, resulted in David Hardy enduring a good test from Ivor Jordan to emerge successful. Third went to Troy Parboo.
At the event's conclusion Senior Instructor, 5th Dan Sensei Amir Khouri congratulated the respective winners and used the opportunity to thank all associated with the event for their invaluable input, especially the sponsors Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, National Sports Commission and J.W. Potter and Company Limited.