Karate: 12th World Kimura Shukokai Championship-Eight to go on a mission in Cape Town |30 September 2004

Speaking to Sports Nation  on Tuesday afternoon during one of the team's training sessions at the Plaisance district administration, coach/competitor Gabriel Victor, a second dan black belt, said he expected the championship to be a big event and of a very high level.

"We expect the competition to be very tough as some of the best karatekas across the globe are going to be there. Even though we lack international experience, we hope to give a good account of ourselves in South Africa and give our opponents a good run for their money," said Victor, who is also the Kimura Shukokai chief instructor in Seychelles.

International experience is always of great value to any Seychelles team and Victor said that had his team been exposed to more high level competitions over the past five years, they would have been better prepared and more confident.

"Because of financial constraints, we haven't been able to make regular overseas trips and this is only our second outing in two years. But still, we are very proud to represent Seychelles in such a big event as the World Kimura Shukokai Championship.

We are physically and mentally prepared. We know that it is going to be very hard but we are very, very confident in our abilities. We want to win and we are determined to do it," noted Victor.

In South Africa, each of the eight Seychellois fighters, who are expected back home on October 11, will compete in three events – weapon, form and sparring – but at different levels.

The eight karatekas making the trip are Gabriel Victor, Bernard Cafrine, Jocelyn Cupidon, Saule Azemia, Andy Léon, Gretel Valentin, Elsa Cupidon and Daniel Thérésine.
It is to be noted that the Seychelles team came back home empty-handed following their first participation at the World Championship in 2002.

A total of 19 countries are expected to compete in the biennial competition.

C. J.