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Botswana: Young Karateka Aims High
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
4 April 2008
Posted to the web 7 April 2008
Boitumelo Khutsafalo
Gaborone
When young karateka, Pearl Ranna joined the sport at the age of 10, she was motivated by the need for self-defence and discipline. Little did she know that she would be a force to reckoned with at international level.
Ranna has just returned from the US Open Karate Championships and Junior Olympics in Nevada, USA where she won three gold medals and a bronze. She said that competition was much tougher in the US Open than in the Junior Olympics. In the Junior Olympics, Ranna won a gold medal in kata and another in kumite. In the US Open, she got a gold medal in kata and bronze in kumite.
She told Mmegi Sport that at first, she was very confident ahead of the two competitions. "But after meeting my opponents, I felt nervous. I thought I was not going to make it especially since it was my first international competition," she said. She added that their coach Mpho Bakwadi told the seven Botswana karatekas who took part in the two tournaments to do their best and never fear anything.
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Other than Ranna, the Hayashi-Ha team comprised Mahommad Hussain, who won two gold medals, Khaya Groth who won a bronze, Kyle Bannister (gold and silver), Asheilan Naicker (two bronze), Nonofo Kekilwe (bronze) and Kaene Kago. Ranna was the only female karateka in the team. "I could not believe it even at the time when I received the medals. I was very surprised by what I did," she said. She disclosed that prior to their trip to USA, they did not have any special training camps. She said the achievement will motivate her to work even harder. She added that the performance shows that she has the potential to go very far.
Ranna told Mmegi Sport that if it was not for her mother, Patience Ranna, she would not be in karate. "My mother is the one who encouraged me to join karate. She was never a karateka herself but she felt that karate will help me in cases where I have to defend myself as well as keep me fit," she added. She revealed that her mother accompanied her to USA.
Ranna joined karate at the age of 10 while still at Northside Primary School. She had to take a long break until last year. "I had other things in between and I had to concentrate on other sports including netball," she said. Currently a form-four student at Maruapula, Ranna is a member of Gym Active karate club. She has won countless medals in local competitions. She is currently looking forward to take part in the Kofukan tournament that takes place at Botswana College of Agriculture (BCA) Hall tomorrow. "Usually I do not find it tough against the local karatekas and I am hoping to do well tomorrow especially after a successful trip to USA," she said.
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