Kota Kinabalu: A total of 448 participants, including 17 teams from Sabah and Brunei Darussalam, competed in the 9th Sabah Shitoryu Karatedo Championship (9SSKC) at Dewan Sri Putatan Kampung Pasir Putih, Putatan.
The annual event, held from July 6 to 7, was organised by the Putatan Karate Association (PKA), formerly known as Sabah Shitoryu Interdojo.
In his speech, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister and Sabah Public Works Minister, Datuk Ir. Shahelmey Yahya, expressed gratitude to the Sabah Shitoryu Karatedo Association for selecting Putatan as this year’s championship host.
“The sport of karate clearly helps in building mental and physical endurance, as well as shaping a person’s discipline.
“There is no doubt that activities like this sport receive support from the State government, benefiting people in leading healthy lifestyles,” he said during the tournament’s inauguration.
Meanwhile, Gesiri Gambung, President of the Sabah Shitoryu Karatedo Association (Shitoryu Sabah), mentioned that a total of 61 categories were contested among athletes ranging from six to 60 years old.
“The Sabah Shitoryu Karatedo Association emerged as champions, securing a total of 12 golds, 13 silvers and 29 bronzes. They were followed by the Papar District Karate Association in second place with 11 golds, five silvers, and eight bronzes, and Securido Karate Club in third place with seven golds, eight silvers and 10 bronzes.”
“Muhammad Kasyaf Akid Abdul Rasyid from Securido Karate Club and Iona Siew Lin Maria Fernandez King from Dahai Karate Club were awarded as the best Male and Female Karate participants in the championship,” he said.
Gesiri mentioned that PKA, participating in the Sabah Shitoryu Championship Cup for the first time this year, managed to collect four golds, three silvers and five bronzes.
The highlight of the event was the Veteran Men’s Kumite Open category, where seven athletes aged 40 to 60 competed for the gold medal.
“Due to the positive reception of Karate participants in the Veteran category, the Sabah Shitoryu Karatedo Association has set a goal to enhance the upcoming Karate tournament, the North Borneo Karatedo Open 2024 (NBO2024), by introducing a Super Veteran Category for participants aged 60 years and above.
“This category will significantly boost participation in the Veteran Team Kumite,” he said.
Among the teams participating in the tournament were Dahai Karate Club, Extreme Martial Art Shotokan Karate, Inspire Karate Club, Keningau Sports Complex Karate Club, Kobe Osaka Skilled Karate Sabah, Sabah Shitoryu Karatedo Association, Papar District Karate Association, Roku Dojo, Securido Karate Club, Shitoryu Karate Association Brunei Darussalam, Shori Karate Club, SKA Kota Kinabalu, SKA Main Dojo, SKA Tamparuli, Spirit Karate Team, Shotokan Karate Association of Sabah, and University Malaysia Sabah Karate Club.
