7 News Belize

Belize Hosts Central American Karate Championships
posted (February 19, 2010)

Belize is hosting the 15th Central American Karate Championships. It was scheduled to officially open this evening at 6 but the competition began this morning. Teams from 7 Central American countries including Belize are going for the gold at the City Center. Keith Swift has more.

Keith Swift Reporting,
Team Belize is going up against 6 teams Central America including the defending champs El Salvador and a challenge from a very physical and formidable team from Panama.

Alberto de Urrida, Panama National Team
“We came here to win it all so we always we want the first place.”

But Anthony Lord and Argazavad Sankey say so too is Team Belize.

Anthony Lord, Team Belize
“We ready, hyped up. I feel prepared enough. I have been training from a couple months back getting ready for it.”

Argazavad Sankey, Team Belize
“I’ve been training also and so I am kind of ready for it.”

Keith Swift,
“What do you think of the other teams?”

Argazavad Sankey,
“Kind of impressive. It looks like they’ve been training for this for a long while. They look hyped up. So it is pretty good competition we have out there.”

Anthony Lord,
“I feel a lot of pressure because I am guess Belize is hoping for us to bring at least a lot of gold and do our best which is what we will do.”

But in three years of participating – Belize hasn’t won a medal in the Central American Karate Championships.

Herman Pastor Jr., Belize Karate Federation
“The chances we have is for improvement overall in the karate improvement and performance. The athletes are showing development compared to the first time we attend the games. We see a chance of the fighting going either way if not out right winning.”

Again tonight’s opening was scheduled to start at 6. Entrance is $5. The competition continues all day tomorrow. It is important to clarify that while Belize has never won a medal in the Central American Karate Championships we have won bronze medals in karate in the Central American Games. The Karate Championship is seen as a warm-up to the Central American Games.

7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift

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