P.E.I. athletes gearing up for karate’s Canada Video games debut
The countdown is on for the 2023 Canada Winter Video games to be held in P.E.I. beginning Feb. 18.
Inside Charlottetown Martial Arts, P.E.I. karate college students are preparing for his or her Canada Video games debut.
“I’ve seen the stadium the place we’re gonna be,” stated Joshbir Roy, who will compete in kata.
“After we go in there, I am fairly certain it will be sensible, actually. And I am sort of scared, however I am excited for it, too.”
It isn’t only a new expertise for the P.E.I. athletes. That is the primary time for karate within the competitors.
“It is the primary time for Canada in both the Winter or Summer time Video games,” stated P.E.I. head coach Collin Affleck.
“Having a possibility for these younger athletes to take part in a multi-sport occasion much like the Olympics, that sort of expertise of their karate careers is fairly important and I am glad to be a part of it.”
‘I can not wait’
In line with Affleck, the province can ship as much as 9 athletes to compete. Solely 5 can be representing the province this time.
Along with Roy, Mark Seemann, Jayce Mills, Bria Wong and Sarvessh Dhanasekar may also be there. All have been finding out the game for years.
“I used to be very excited [because] I by no means imagined that karate can be thought-about a sport within the Canada Video games,” stated Dhanasekar. “I can not wait to be on the spot and wave the flag and cheer ‘Go Staff P.E.I.'”
The crew has been assembly at Charlottetown Martial Arts to practise for the previous few months.
The classes do not solely concentrate on bodily abilities however psychological preparation as effectively.
“It is the primary sport that I have been in that I’ve really felt enthusiastic about,” stated Mills.
“It isn’t that common right here, if you have not observed. I have not seen as many individuals right here as I’ve in different provinces who take part and I feel it could be actually cool to have the ability to share it with the neighborhood.”
Rising the game
Erick Silva, Karate P.E.I.’s previous president, agrees. He stated there have been efforts for years to get karate included within the Canada Video games.
“We hope the publicity on the Canada Video games … not solely in P.E.I. however throughout the nation … will give us alternative to develop and develop a brand new era of athletes,” stated Silva.
“Not solely on the nationwide stage however on the worldwide stage, too.”
Silva and Affleck each hope to see karate included in future Canada Video games as effectively.
“Extra protection like this, I feel, will deliver extra individuals to the game, hopefully, and get extra individuals concerned and create that chance for others sooner or later,” stated Affleck.
The athletes perceive what’s forward and have labored onerous towards it, he stated.
“I feel they’re gonna do very effectively,” he stated. “I feel they’ve all been getting ready very, very onerous. I am proud of all of them, it doesn’t matter what occurs.”
