A promising Sri Lankan karate exponent, Sethindu Vinuwan, became the best athlete in the junior category at a four-style Asian Gojuryu Karate Championship that took place in Katmandu, Nepal last week.
Vinuwan who hails from Wycherley International School in Gampaha outsmarted the rest in the Under-18 category to win the honour after he won a bronze in the Individual Kata (Under-11) and a silver medal in a team event.
He was the only Sri Lankan in the arena and was supported by three Australians who were in the same camp and allowed under championship rules.
“Vinuwan is of extreme high quality and has plenty of talent and potential to go forward in the future. He can even target a place at the World Championship,” said his coach Sensei Damith Bandara.
Over 500 karate exponents took part in the championship and overall Sri Lanka was placed third behind India and host Nepal who threw in over hundred athletes each.
Sensei Bandara successfully put forward a proposal to stage the Meet in Sri Lanka in 2025 and taking the second runner-up place into account, the organizers were compelled to grant the island hosting rights.