15 youngsters at Sunderland and South Tyneside karate club have become world champions

Fifteen youngsters at a karate club in Sunderland and South Tyneside have become world champions.

They were among 32 competitors in The Dokan Club squad who travelled to Malta for the WKA World Championships – finishing third in the team medal table.

The new world champions are Alice Watson (11), Charley Foster (12), Charlotte Batey (9), Daisy Archer (8), Harriet Carter (12), Jack Cheverton (7), Joshua Parkin (10), Leon Wilkinson (9), Lily Cheverton (10), Lucia Henderson age (11), Maisie Mellish (7), Myah Hackett (10) Riley Rogerson (12), Sofia Watson (11) and Theo Slee (10).

The three-day event was contested by 1,322 athletes from 31 nations. Counting team events the Dokan club collected 18 gold, 19 silver and 16 bronze medals. The championships were the second competition in a week for the youngsters.

They ‘warmed up’ for the global event by competing in the Malta Open competition – racking up 12 Gold, 17 silver and 12 bronze medals to finish third in the medal table.

The club’s chief instructor, Kevan Mitchinson, 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.”

He added: “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.”

Their next outing is a junior competition in Leeds, followed by the Scottish International Dundee. Dokan teaches Shotokan karate – considered a traditional and influential form of the sport – at a range of venues in South Tyneside and Sunderland.

As well as the competition squad the Dokan club holds a series of classes for all age groups – and specific beginner’s classes – seven days a week.

For more information on taking up karate call 07939 130411; Facebook DKA Dokan; email [email protected] of go to www.dokan.co.uk.