Randev wins Silver Medal in Malaysia

The 14th Malaysian Open Karate Championship, one of the key international tournaments for karate in the Asian region, attracted 1470 competitors from 21 countries and held in Kuala Lampur recently.

Randev Athukorala, a 12 year old from St. Peter's College, representing the Sri Lankan Schools Karate Team won the silver for the Under 12 Kata event.

Commenting on his win Randev said "my father said that I am not representing the Dojo or the school but the country and, all I can remember was seeing him in the pavilion raising the Sri Lankan flag to remind that I represent karate community of Sri Lanka.

I hope I have done them proud. I now want to represent Sri Lanka at the Asian Games which is my next challenge"

Randev is being trained by Shihan Hiroshi Ota (Japan), Sensei Allan Campbell (Great Britain) and in Sri Lanka by Sensei D.M. Nimal (5th Dan black belt) and his father Rohantha Athukorala (2nd Dan black belt). Young Athukorala has also won Gold Medals at the Sri Lanka Schools Karate Championships, Shito - Ryu Sri Lanka Championships, Kenshinkai Do Federation and Schools Karate Federation tournaments.

Internationally he won a silver medal at the Karate Cup Malaysia when he was 10 years old and a gold medal at the Japan Karate Cup.

Randev is a 2nd year member of the Sri Lanka Schools Karate Team in 2011- 2013.