Windhoek — More than sixty local karateka from the Karatezen Namibia Club left the country yesterday for the Karatezen International competition, which gets under way at the Belhar Sports Centre in Cape Town, tomorrow.

The Namibian contingent consists of members of the Karatezen Namibia Club sub-member regions, such as Khomasdal, Windhoek, Oshakati, Lüderitz and Katima, as well as an affiliate team from the University of Namibia (Unam).

The two-day annual competition is expected to attract more than 600 contestants from the Cape Province surroundings and Namibia.

Karatezen Namibia Club members have been regular visitors to the prestigious event over the past 20 years and have acquitted themselves extremely well, with a significant number of medals, including several gold medals in various categories during last year's competition.

The Namibian touring entourage, ranging from the age group 9 to 35, will be under the guidance of chief instructor Gert Husselmann, to be ably assisted by four other officials of note.