Seven provincial “elite” athletes from Varsity Performance Karate in Saanich won nine medals in BC’s first karate competition since the global pandemic forced the stoppage of all local karate tournaments two years ago. The fourth edition of the Canada Open was hosted by Karate BC and held December 4th and 5th, 2021, at the Richmond Oval in Richmond, BC.
Olivia Brodie (student at Reynolds Secondary and the Canadian Sport School located at PISE) earned gold in the U18 female merged -48/-53 kg kumite and bronze 16/17 female kata. Before the COVID-forced closure of competition, Olivia was the top-ranked athlete in her provincial kumite division.
Ella Crowle (student at Oak Bay High) and Carlotta Limido (foreign exchange student at Parklands Secondary) earned gold and silver in the U18 female +59kg kumite division. Ella was ranked #1 in her provincial category before the COVID closures, while Carlotta placed 7th in the Italian National Championship this past June.
Brothers Robin and Irvin Goraya both took home medals from the event. Irvin (student at Camosun College) won gold in the U21 male +84kg kumite and silver in the merged Senior -84kg and +84kg division while Robin (Claremont High Student) earned silver in the U18 merged male -61/-68kg kumite
Sofia Devlin (student at UVic) took silver in the Senior merged female -68/+68kg kumite. Sofia is also one of Varsity Karate’s assistant coaches running recreational and competition classes at the Varsity Karate dojo.
Yashita Kaku (student at St. Margaret’s School) earned bronze in the female U14 -42 kg kumite. Yashita is also qualified to represent Vancouver Island at Vernon’s upcoming BC Winter Games in February 2022.
Also representing Varsity was Josephine Duffy, who garnered bronze in the Women’s Advanced/Intermediate kumite division.
Varsity Karate’s competition team was supported by Head Coach Kraig Devlin and Assistant Coach Dr. Tanya Crowle. All seven Provincial Elite athletes are currently preparing to represent BC at the 2022 Karate Canada National Championships held this July in St John’s, Newfoundland.
