BAKWADI LEADS KARATEKAS TO KIGALI

BY:Letsile  Matlhodi

African Kata champion Ofentse Bakwadi is expected to lead karatekas for three days of tough and hectic competition at the 17th African Karate Championship.

The championships which started  today on August 31 and to end September 2 are expected to produce gold medals from the local team despite the tough and hectic matches from the likes of Egyptian Ahmed Shawky and South African Michael Duplesis.

When speaking to the media,Bakwadi who is currently the champion and gold medalist of the African seniors karate championship has expressed high confidence from him and the team despite other competitors who would be looking forward to take the gold medal he won last year in Cameroon.

Bakwadi will also be taking part in the male individual Kata which in 2010 saw him taking bronze medal in Cape Town and Silver in Morocco.

The women’s national team includes the likes of Thato Malunga  who will be participating in the ladies team kumite and individual kumite,Entle Maungwa and Centy Kgosikoma who have recently been added in the senoir team.

The spot light will also be on the 19 year old Thabang Maleke who is expected to show off her experience and strength in kumite.

Quinton Mosupiemang, the region  5 karate champion and local kumite sensation is expected to perform very well in the under 75kg kumite.

Thabang Setshego who is the former African youth games champion is expected to join his team from his Asian base.
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Botswana karatekas are hoping to emerge victorious dethroning Tunisia which is currently the champions followed by Egypt and Cameron who came in second and third respectively. 

The team is under the watch of Sensei Peter Molefhe and BOKA President Tshepho Bathai who heads the Rwandan delegation. ​