Sierra Leone Karate Federation Hosts Successful 6th Japanese Open Championship

Sierra Leone Karate Federation Hosts Successful 6th Japanese Open Championship

The Sierra Leone Karate Federation (SLKF) successfully hosted the 6th Japanese Open Championship in Freetown, marking a significant achievement in the ongoing development of karate nationwide.

The prestigious event garnered high-level attendance, including the Minister of Sports, Augusta James-Teima, Director Kaifala Stevens and Director of Participation Alie Sesay from the National Sports Authority (NSA), State House's Patrick Muana who's also Chairman of the Japan Karate Association and an active pillar in the arts, a representative from the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone, and the Ambassador of Japan to Sierra Leone.

The championship began with a professional seminar for coaches and referees, followed by rigorous referees’ examinations and athlete eliminations across various divisions. Competitors showcased their skills in Kata and Kumite across the U14, Cadet, Junior, and Senior categories for both male and female athletes.

Under the visionary leadership of Professor Victor Edward Amara, President of the Federation, the Japanese Open Championship continues to gain strength and national recognition among karate enthusiasts.

Competition Results

Category	Event	Athlete	Result
U14	Kata	Mohamed S. Jalloh	Gold Medal
U14	Kata	Solomon	Gold Medal
U14	Kata	Moses Dumbuya	Silver Medal
U14	Kata	Wisdom	Silver Medal
U14	Kumite	Moses Dumbuya	Gold Medal
U14	Kumite	Redmeer	Gold Medal
U14	Kumite	Solomon	Silver Medal
U14	Kumite	Yusif Kamara Jalloh	Silver Medal
Female Cadet	Kata	Margaret Sillah	Silver Medal
Female Cadet	Kumite	Margaret Sillah	Silver Medal
Female Cadet	Both	Biotao Amara	Notable Performance
Cadet Boys	Kata	Ibrahim Jalloh	Gold Medal
Cadet Boys	Kata	Ibrahim Timbo	Silver Medal
Cadet Boys	Kumite	Ibrahim Timbo	Gold Medal
Junior Girls	Kata	Catherine Sall (Bo Town)	Gold Medal
Junior Girls	Kumite	Catherine Sall (Bo Town)	Gold Medal
Senior	Kata	Foday Kamara	Gold Medal
Senior	Kata	Samuel King	Silver Medal
Senior	Kata	Abubakarr Sillah	Bronze Medal
Senior	Kumite (-70)	Foday Kamara	Gold Medal
Senior	Kumite (-70)	Wurie Jalloh	Silver Medal
Senior	Kumite (+70)	Abubakarr Sillah	Gold Medal
Senior	Kumite (+70)	Samuel King	Silver Medal

The competition featured professional officiating, with Momoh Paul Fran Fofanah and Victor Amara Jnr. serving as the center referees, ensuring the competition ran smoothly and fairly.

The 6th edition was a resounding success, further cementing the Sierra Leone Karate Open Championship's status as a key driver for the growth and widespread appreciation of the sport across Sierra Leone.