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 Sunday 12th October 2008 saw Sophie Roberts and Alex Sell from Shuhari-Kai Karate Club attended the final National
Karate Squad selections for the forth-coming Cadet/Junior European Karate Championships being held in Paris, France next year. Both Shuhari-Kai squad members had made it through the initial selection processes with 100 % records after winning all their selection fights
previously and were looking forward to completing the job at the Dartford Judo Hall in Kent where these selections were taking place.
Following the two-hour open National Squad training session, the selections got underway with the Cadet Kata selections kicking off the proceedings following the lunchtime interlude. The Junior Kata selections followed the Cadets with Alex
competing for the national spot in the Male 16-17yrs category. Alex performed a good Chatanyara Kushanku Kata and had an agonising wait for the remaining performances to be completed. The National Coach ‘Ticky’ Donovan OBE called the Kata hopefuls together once all the Katas
had been watched to announce the squad but unfortunately Alex didn’t the the decision this time round.
Undeterred, Alex was soon in action again, this time competing in the Male 16-17yrs Under 68kg Kumite category. Alex had two fights to negotiate this time round and won both fights 4-1 and 2-0 respectively maintaining his 100% record at these
selections. Although confident, there is still the element of doubt that creeps in, especially as the wait until the end of the whole selection process completes before the announcements are made which seems to agonisingly last forever.
Meanwhile, on the Girls mat, Sophie also had two fights to negotiate as she sought selection into the Girls 16-17yrs, Over 59kg category. Whilst Alex fought in font of Wayne Otto OBE and Ticky Donovan OBE, Sophie had assistant National Coaches
Juliette Toney and Greg Francis watching over the proceedings. Sophie lost her opening fight 2-0 getting caught by two Gyakuzuki punches but was unable to score against her opponent. Sophie did get the chance to fight once more and did better initially opening up a 3-0 lead
scoring a Ura-Mawashigeri against her opponent. However, her opponent fought back well and the fight finished 3-3. Following a minute of extra time the scores remained the same but Sophie took the victory on the judge’s decision.
The Kumite hopefuls were finally all called together at the end of the selections and sat on the mats in front of the table as the National Coach read out the names of the successful squad members. Alex was selected for his category once
again as he was last year making this his second European Championships. Sophie unfortunately wasn’t selected. Disappointed – YES, but as this was her first attempt to select for the National squad she did extremely well to come so very very close to getting the decision. She
did herself and her club proud and hopefully this will spur her on for next time. Alex will now be working hard on preparing himself to secure a medal in Paris for England and we wish him the best of luck.
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