By James Cowling, Port Moresby 2015 Games News Service
PORT MORESBY, July 12 – New Caledonia and Fiji are set to face off against each other for the highest honours when karate begins at the Port Moresby 2015 Pacific Games.
In the last two Games that karate has been featured, at Noumea 2011 and Suva 2003, New Caledonia dominated the field but Fiji has shown it is also a force to be reckoned with.
In 2003, New Caledonia won 10 gold to Fiji’s four, and in 2011, it was nine gold to six respectively.
A number of defending champions will be competing this year, such as Naomi Bakani (FIJ), who won gold medals in women’s under 68kg and individual kuta four years ago.
In karate, when competitors are eliminated in their initial bout, they participate in the repechage.
Defeat in the repechage sends an athlete out of the competition altogether, but if they keep winning they could eventually fight in the bronze medal match.
There will be a total of 18 gold medals on offer at Port Moresby 2015 in kata and kumite across the men’s and women’s events.
The bouts in kata will last for five minutes, while the bouts in kumite will last for seven minutes for women and eight minutes for men.
Karate will take place at the BSP Arena on July 13 and 14.
GNS jc/kd for more information visit www.portmoresby2015.com
