Young Athukorala wins ‘Gold’ at Senior Karate Championships

Peterite Karate Captain Randev Athukorala won the Under 20 Heavy weight Black Belt Category Kumitae, the top award at the Senior Karate Championship 2019 staged at Sugathadasa Stadium last weekend.

Sri Lankan Black Belt Karateka Randev Athukorala winning the Gold

Athukorala, who captained the Sri Lanka Schools Karate team to the Asian Karate Cup 2019 In Malaysia and won the Under 19 Kata and Kumitae events at the beginning of the year, had stiff opposition at the Schools Senior Karate Championship as he was fighting two years above his age category and in the 84kg+ heavy weight class category, but went on to win the Gold Medal.

Karate Coach Sensei Kalyana said, “Randev is a strong athlete and must be developed to fight at the next Commonwealth Games. He must balance his studies and sports.” The Sri Lanka Karate Do Association President Anura Shantha commented, “I have seen Randev grow from the age of nine years touring the karate circuit internationally with the Sri Lanka Schools Karate team. It is with the same commitment that he went on to win the South Asian Gold Medal in New Delhi and be ranked 11th in the world in the 76kg+ ‘Cadet Category’ by the World Karate Federation (WKF), which is a rare honour for Sri Lankan Karate.” 

Randev’s father and coach Dr. Rohantha Athukorala, who is himself a Second Dan Black Belt karateka, stated, “Sri Lanka is a fitness crazy nation with so many in the private sector into cross fit, tabata or gymming daily. We must now get into sports science management. This is the future globally. It’s important to acknowledge Sensei D.M.D. Nimal who trained Randev in his formative years and then Sensei Safraz, whilst Sensei Kalyana really brought out the talent of the youngster. They are the heroes of Sri Lanka Karate,” he said.