Evans mines silver at Commonwealth Karate Championships

Jamaicans continue to impress in karate across the Commonwealth. This is after 14-year-old Rasandre Evans, dubbed 'Karate Kid', won a silver medal at the 2024 Commonwealth Karate Championships in Durban, South Africa, on November 29.

Evans competed in the elite 14/15 years old, -57 kg category, where South Africa's Brendan Engelbrecht took gold, while India's Honey Soni and Vishal Amradi Reddy shared the bronze medal.

Jamaica Karate Association President Seishihan Tony Robinson said he is very pleased with the results.

"This is a wonderful result and I am not surprised. Rasandre is ranked number 22 in the world and he has performed very well consistently for the past two years. I am certain he will keep flying the Jamaican colours high for many years to come," Robinson said.

While Evans competed in Africa, his Jamaican counterparts Sheaquan McKenzie, Khalil Shattok, Cheye Ann Amelia, Khalil Gordon, Heather Campbell and Nicola Hazle attended a karate training camp in Panama, organised by Centro Caribe Sports.

Robinson said this training camp is vital to the development of the young athletes. He expressed gratitude to the president of Centro Caribe Sports, Luis Mejia Oviedo, President of the Panama Karate Federation (PKF) Eduardo Frias, PKF technical director Tony Mesa, and the full support of the Pan American Karate Federation and its president, Dr. Jose Garcia Maafion, for the continued efforts to develop karate in the Caribbean.

"Jamaica Karate is also thankful to the leadership of the president of the Caribbean Karate Federation, Jose Luis Ramirez, for his constant efforts to support the growth of karate in our region, and to the great world champions from our continent, Douglas Brose of Brazil and Antonio Diaz of Venezuela, who lead the training camps in Panama," Robinson said.

"The Jamaica Olympic Association's leadership of President Christopher Samuda and General Secretary/CEO Ryan Foster have provided support and encouragement to our organisation, and they really value our athletes," Robinson said. "We are grateful for that and will continue to work hard to bring more international karate success to Jamaica."

sports@gleanerjm.com