15 South Tyneside and Sunderland karate youngsters win big in Malta
Fifteen youngsters have found karate success on a world championship level.
Dokan Karate Club travelled to Malta for the WKA World Championships at the end of March and 15 youngsters became world champions as a result.
They were among 32 competitors in The Dokan Club squad, which finished third in the overall team medal table - with the three-day event contested by 1,322 athletes from 31 nations.
The squad secured 18 gold medals, 19 silver medals and 16 bronze medals.
The new world champions are Alice Watson, 11, Charley Foster, 12, Charlotte Batey, nine, Daisy Archer, eight, Harriet Carter, 12, Jack Cheverton, seven, Joshua Parkin, 10, Leon Wilkinson, nine, Lily Cheverton, 10, Lucia Henderson, 11, Maisie Mellish, seven, Myah Hackett, 10, Riley Rogerson, 12, Sofia Watson, 11, and Theo Slee, 10.
Kevan Mitchinson, the club’s chief instructor, said: “To say the youngsters excelled is an understatement.
"Many countries such as Brazil entered as a nation and had 300 people competing, so for the Dokan club to finish in third-place in both the Worlds and the Malta Open was a fabulous achievement.
“The trip meant two tournaments in one week but we have a very strong squad who worked extremely hard in preparation.
"Some were in multiple events and the final medal tally was only possible because of the training they put in and the club's policy of giving ambitious students better opportunities to develop their skills.
“Everyone deserved the success they got.”
You can find out more about Dokan Karate Club by calling 07939 130411, emailing: [email protected], and online at: https://www.facebook.com/dka.redhouse/ or https://www.dokan.co.uk/.