Meshack Khotha

Meshack Khotha

Tamara Booi's international experience helped her to defeat a tough Nosipho Mtsilibe in the final of the Gauteng Karate Open tournament in Vanderbijlpark at the weekend.

Booi, the reigning Swaziland Open champion, met a difficult opponent in Mtsilibe, who matched her pound for pound for almost the whole bout.

During the contest Booi changed her style of fighting , collecting valuable points by throwing kihon zukis (combination of punches) and gedan mawashe geri (low roundhouse kicks) at Mtsilibe.

Booi, who came second at an international tournament in Australia last year, went on to win on points.

In another encounter, Nomthandazo November from Bloemfontein's Karate Kyokushin Organisation (Royama) defeated Dieketseng Ramonyadiwa of KKO (Matsushima) in the under-55kg category.

Teams that took part in the tournament were Bloemfontein, Potchefstroom, Carletonville, Ekurhuleni, Central Gauteng and hosts Sedibeng.

Karate Organisation of South Africa's Shihan Peter "Poison'' Thage praised the combatants' fighting spirit and discipline.

He also congratulated the North West University for providing the hosts, Sedibeng Kyokushin Karate, with the hall, trophies, medals and catering facilities.

Men's winners: Pepsi Shilubane - open weight; Simon Ndabambi - under-70kg; Retshepile Mogobo - under-60kg.