Bhutan secured 42 medals at the 8th South Asian Karate Championship
Bhutan secured five silver and 37 bronze medals in various weight categories at the 8th South Asian Karate Championship held in Thimphu on July 18-19. This marked the first time Bhutan hosted the event with a total of 47 Bhutanese athletes participating in the tournament.
The five silver medals were won in the Kata individual female juniors above 66 kg category, Kumite individual male seniors under-67 kg category, Kumite individual female juniors under-55 kg category, Kumite individual female seniors under-45 kg category and Kata male junior category. Three students from Sherubtse College secured two silver medals and one bronze medal.
With participation of 68 karatekas, Nepal earned a total of 62 medals including 31 gold, 20 silver and 11 bronze. The Indian team represented by 73 athletes bagged 60 medals including 27 gold, 20 silver and 13 bronze. The Sri Lankan team with 56 karatekas received 5 gold, 18 silver and 31 bronze medals.
Over 200 karatekas and 400 officials from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan took part in the championship competing in cadet, junior, under-21 and senior categories.
The championship not only provided a platform for identifying elite players with the potential to excel in Asian and World Championships but also fostered an interaction and knowledge sharing among athletes from different countries. The event aimed to strengthen the bond between the South Asian member countries aligning with the shared objective of the South Asian Karate Federation (SAKF).
The inauguration ceremony of the event was graced by His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck while the closing ceremony saw the presence of His Serene Highness Jigje Singye Wangchuck. The Hon’ble Lyonpo for Education and Skills Development was also present on the final day. SAKF jointly with the Bhutan Karate Association and the Bhutan Olympic Committee organized the championship.