WSU KARATE FINISHES JOINT FIRST AT RECENT USSA NATIONALS

The superior flailing about of karate chops, kicks and punches earned WSU joint-first position at this year’s edition of the annual University Sports South Africa (USSA) National Karate Championships recently held in East London from 1-2 July. ‘

A grand total of 32 students from the university’s various campuses managed to amass, together with joint winners DUT, a total of  39 points to jointly secure top honours under the ‘full contact’ category.

“As a coordinator of the WSU karate team I’m very excited that the students’ hard work and dedication has paid off. We’ve worked very hard in preparing for these games and to see that hard work payoff in tangible results is quite satisfying,” said WSU sports administrator Yonela Ntongana.

A total of 20 universities from across the country assembled for the event to participate in the full contact and semi-contact categories – both which find expression in the disciplines of kata, kumite and clicker.

Anna Mathongwana, a management student at the Ibika campus and winner of the kata competition under the development phase, heaped high praise upon the sport of karate for the positive influence it’s had on her life.

“My journey in karate began when I enrolled at the university back in 2021. Since attending that first lesson I’ve never looked back because it brings me such joy and fulfilment. It also distresses me when all seems to be overwhelming,“ said Mathongwana.

Two other triumphant WSU karatekas, Mthatha Campus‘ BCom Economics (Honours) student Thabo Ngcobo and third-year Human Resource Management student Azola Lutseke from Butterworth Campus, who walked away with gold and silver medals respectively, described their experience as “unforgettable“.

Ngcobo, whose journey as a karateka also began at university in 2019, said the sport has been invaluable in his personal development.

“Karate has given me so much more than just physical attributes. It has guilt my confidence and self-esteem and most of all, it has enhanced grown my strength, courage and spirit to overcome any challenge,“ he said.

Preceding the actual bloody encounters and exquisite routines was the structure‘s annual general meeting which saw Ntongana being elected as USSA Karate national deputy chairperson.

A black belt herself with many years as a practitioner and administrator in martial arts under her belt, she vowed to let her passion and experience pave the way during a tenure set to have many a challenging and exciting times.

“There’s a tough job ahead that needs my utmost dedication to propel karate in the country to the next level and have it administratively compete with the best bodies in the world so that our athletes can be exposed to the highest standards in the world,“ concluded Ntongana.

By Thando Cezula