Junior team prepares for World Junior Karate Champs

The national junior Karate team yesterday started preparations for the World Juniors and Cadet Karate Championships 2013 set for November 7-10, in Guadalajara, Spain. The championships will attract close to 100 countries.This comes shortly after four members of the junior team, on Tuesday, returned home, with four bronze medals won during the August 26 – September 2, seventh cadets, junior and under 21 African championships in Tunis, Tunisia.According to the Rwandan Karate Federation (FERWAKA) Technical Director, Guy Didier Rurangayire (fourth dan), three members of the team – Rurangayire Christian, Ngarambe Vanily, and Ingabire, all 20 years old, started training yesterday evening, at Amahoro National Stadium in Remera.“They will train together with senior members of the national team since training for all teams, as usual, is on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” said Rurangayire, a black belt holder.Three others - Jeanne d’Arc Umumararungu, 17, Alphani Nsabimana, 19, Aisha Umuhoza, 19, who are students, will be training during week-ends.“These three have gone back to school but since competition will be during exams time, we are yet to decide if they will travel,” he added.In Tunis, Umumararungu, Nsabimana, Umuhoza and Ingabire, each won Bronze in their respective categories at the El Menzah Sports palace - the Olympic city.Umuhoza and Nsabimana competed under the individual Kata category, while Ingabire and Umumararungu tussled it out in Kumite in the over 60Kg and the under 54Kg competitive weight groupings, respectively.