7 karatekas to join Nagano meet

SEMARANG (JP): Kei Shin Kan (KSK) Karateka-Do Indonesia will send seven karatekas for the 42nd Hardcontact international championships in Nagano, Japan, on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6.

Bambang Dewantoro, a KSK teacher and council chairman who will also act as an official, said here on Tuesday that the karatekas would leave for Japan on July 31.

"The karatekas will compete as individuals and in teams in men's and women's kumite and kata events. We have prepared the athletes for quite a long time and they were selected from the national championships in Jakarta recently," Bambang said.

The karatekas are Rusdi, Rustam, Samijo and Sunarko on the men's side and Inne Dawati, Masine Slahanti and Maria Indahwati on the women's.

Bambang hoped the karatekas would have good results in the championships, although they are facing tough contenders from other countries.

"In the women's events, the toughest rival is host Japan while for the men, the stiff competition is from the United States, Australia and Japan. Our three women karatekas will stay in Japan to take an examination for promotion to Dan II and Dan III," Bambang said. (har)