Thursday, 21 November 2013 00:00
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The 4th Nepal Open Karate International staged at Dhangadhi, Nepal attracted 480 competitors from eight SAARC countries under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Nepal. 12 year old Sri Lankan Randev Athukorala of St. Peter College representing the Sri Lankan Schools Karate Team won two medals for the country – Silver for the Katha event and Bronze for the Kumitae, beating the number one in Nepal but losing to the agile Bhutan Karateka in the final.
Commenting on his win young Athukorala said, “I have been doing Karate since the age of six and now, it is part of my life. Karate is not about winning medals but perfecting the art and extending the discipline to studies and life. My father also reminds me before competition that I am representing Sri Lanka and not my school or dojo, which motivates me,” quipped Randev.
Randev is being trained by Shihan Hiroshi Ota (Japan), Sensei Allan Campbell (Great Britain) and in Sri Lanka by Sensei D.M. Nimal (5th Dan Black Belt) and his father Rohantha Athukorala (2nd Dan Black Belt). Young Athukorala is Gold Medallion at the Sri Lanka Schools Karate Championships, Shito – Ryu Sri Lanka Championships, Kenshinkai Do Federation and Schools Karate Federation. Internationally he is a Silver Medallion at the Karate Cup Malaysia when he was 10 years old and Japan Karate Cup Gold Medallion. Randev is a 2nd year member of the Sri Lanka Schools Karate Team in 2011-2013.
