The 2023 national children Karate championship started Saturday, September 16, at Notre Dame des Anges school in Remara, Kigali.

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There were 285 children in total, 87 girls and 173 boys, aged between 7 and 15, competing in the individual Kata contests on the first day of the competition, Saturday.

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The youngsters competed for honours in various Kata and Kumite competition categories.

In this second edition of the event, Rwanda Karate Federation (FERWAKA) endeavoured to bring together as many as possible junior Karate athletes in the country in an open championships of unprecedented scale and quality.

Girls Kata winners

In the 7-8 age category, kids from Flying Eagle Karate Club bagged all female Kata medals. Kelia Irinatwe and Chantal Iradukunda, won gold and silver, respectively. Only Flying Eagle&039;s Joy Ishimwe and Kigali Karate Academy's Sheila Teta Ishimwe shared the third position.

In the 9-10 category, again, Flying Eagle dominated, with Kesia Impayimpundu and Alvine Kamanzi bagging gold and bronze, respectively. The bronze went to Wisdom School Karate-Do's Briallant Jinjou Uwase and Vision Karate Academy's Hope Ishimwe Karangwa.

Under the 11-12 age category, Emelyne Habimana and Emelyne Umumararungu of Flying Eagle won gold and silver, respectively, while Imena Karate-Do's Macline Kaliza and Ange Asifiwe settled for bronze.

In the 13-15 category, Flying Eagle's Aline Irakoze and Carine Irakoze bagged the gold and silver, respectively, while bronze went to the latter's Jehovans Ineza and Champion Sports Academy's Fotia Nziza.

The female team Kata winners were Flying Eagle, Champion Sports Academy, respectively, who won gold and silver, while third position went to Bright Kids Karate Academy and Imena Karate-Do.

Girls Kumite winners

The female Kumite competition was set in two age categories.

Amanda Beza of Wisdom School won gold in the 11-12 category while Flying Eagle's Kethia Igenaneza won silver. Bronze went to Flying Eagle's Emelyne Habimana and Hero Karate-Do's Rasia Umuhoza.

Flying Eagle again dominated the 13-15 age category, with Aline Irakoze and Jehovans Ineza bagging gold and silver, respectively. Champion Sports Academy's Fotia Nziza and Ketia Uwase Isaro shared the third position medal.