Over the weekend a team of 8 martial artists will be leaving Belize enroute to Nicaragua to compete in the 8th Central American Karate Championships. The event will run from the 19th to the 25th of March in Managua and is a qualifying event for the participants to move on to the Pan American Games which are scheduled to be held in Brazil in July of this year. We caught up with the Karatekas last night as they put in the final practice before heading to Nicaragua.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
This is the national karate team, and these are their moves. These 8 martial artists 7men and a 15-year-old young lady have been selected from Dojo's from across the country as the best fighters.
Franz Menzies,
"These are the best fighters we have trained in the country, yes I would say they are."
And President of the Martial Arts Federation of Belize Franz Menzies says these fighters will be leaving Belize to compete for a shot at the Pan American Games in Brazil in July of this year.
Franz Menzies,
"We need to be able to compete in the Pan American Games coming up in July, later this year in Brazil. In order to do that, we have to qualify at Managua Nicaragua in the tournament of championships being held there from March 19th to the 25th."
Coach for the team is Herman Pastor Junior as he gives his team advice he's certain that this is one of Belize's better selections yet.
Herman Pastor Jr.,
"We have never put a proper team together before whereby athletes sacrificed and tried to meet weekly like now. The guys have been practicing all year 'round. The athletes are putting in their part, the athletes from the districts have been coming here on Friday on their own accord just to train in Belize City so that everybody could meet together."
The youngest member of the team is 15-year-old Tara Holder. Her ambitions at the upcoming competition in Nicaragua is to get exposure.
Tara Holder,
"I'm looking for the experience first and then once I know what I am up against then I am planning to medal. I'll try my best but this time around is definitely experience."
And hopefully more and if we're to judge by the moves maybe she stands a chance.
The team says they would not have been able to attend this year's competition had it not been for the generosity of their sponsors.
