INDONESIAN KARATE TEAM WINS 1 GOLD

INDONESIAN KARATE TEAM WINS 1 GOLD, 2 SILVER AND 5 BRONZE MEDALS AT THE ASIAN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012 IN TASHKENT

After many years without gold medal in Karate Championships for women’s category, Indonesian karate athlete from Papua Ms Yulanda Asmuruf successfully won one by winning in kumite – 68 kg for women in the 11^th AKF Senior Championship & 12^th AKF Junior & Cadet Championship held in Tashkent  from 14 to 17 July 2012.

The gold medal added to the 2 silver and 5 bronze medals Indonesian team won at the international championship. Silver medals were won by Ramadan Saputra for cadet kumite -63 kg for men and by senior men’s team that consists of Aswar, Fidelys Lolobua and Faizal Zainuddin. Bronze medals were won by Widya Sari Ifka for cadet kumite – 47 kg for women, Renaldy Primary Surantio for cadet kumite + 70 kg category men, Stanley Soegianto for individual categories of kata – 63 kg, Imam Tauhid Raganda in kumite category – 55 kg men and by junior women’s team consist of Aprilia Visa, Dwi Puspita Sari ni Made, Kautsar Mastura and Nawar.

Iwan Setiawan, head of Indonesian Karate delegation, said that the achievements of Indonesian team shows the development of karate in Indonesia and the dedication of each karate athlete to excell for Indonesia. Iwan Setiawan also expressed pride in the success of 17 of 20 referees from Indonesia who are involved in the referee championship that successfully passed the examination test for referees organized by the Asian Karate Federation (AKF) on 12-13 July 2012 in Tashkent.

 Indonesia Ambassador for Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Mohamad Asruchin who hosted a dinner for the Karate team at his residence on July 17, 2012 expressed his appreciation fo rthe team achievements as well as his impression as he had the chance to to watch the team performance in particular Yulanda Asmuruf’s brilliant performance which enabled her to win the gold medal by beating Karkooti Pegah Zangeneh, Iran’s best karate athlete. In addition, the atheletes as the representantive of Indonesia in the world stage are expected to continue to excell in the future for their country.

 The 11^th AKF Senior Championship & 12^th AKF Junior & Cadet Championship in Tashkent is the first international karate championship that was organized by Uzbekistan and the Indonesian team was represented by 12 junior and 17 senior athletes in the event.