Ashihara Karatekas excel at Nationals

Ashihara International Karate Organization (AIKO) Sri Lanka left a golden mark at the National Full Contact Karate Championship 2010 held at Albert Pieries Indoor Stadium, Wennappuwa. Organized by Sri Lanka Karate Do Federation, the tournament saw over 300 competitors from 12 registered full contact karate organizations taking part where 10 out of 18 AIKO karatekas were crowned as national champions.

AIKOs youngest Brown Belter, nine year old Sempai Chaluka Sandil Athapattu knocked his opponent by a Mae Geri Jodan in the final of under 30kg Junior event and managed to be the youngest national champion in AIKO history. It was also remarkable that his little sister Swetha Shakya Athapattu secured first place in the under 6 years girls event. Sensei W M Rukshika Kumari won the gold medal while Samanmalie Jayasinghe won the silver in the Over 80kg ladies event.

Sempai Udeni Rangama proved his sportsmanship when he managed to be the first runner up in the under 65kg men’s open event even though he was bleeding after facing an illegal face punch in the quarter finals. P T Jayasekara shared the first runner up medal with Udeni in the same event.

AIKO Sri Lanka Chief Instructor Sensei Priyantha Rajapaksa is the key to this victory and without his teaching and guidance AIKO would not be at the helm of Sri Lankan full contact karate.

Sithara Ranjan de silva won the over 80kg Heavy weight men’s open event defeating an experienced Brown Belter in the final while Senpai Srimal Rodrigo and B D A C Bopitiya won the over 70kg and 75kg men’s open events respectively. Sempai Lasantha Rajapaksha became the runner up in under 55kg open event while Amila Nandasena, Subash Lakshitha, Achila Weerasinghe, Yehan Sooriyarachchi and Hareen Weerasinghe also fought bravely in their respective events.