The Richmond Oval once again welcomes top athletes from across the country this weekend for the 41st annual National Karate Championships.
It marks the fourth consecutive year the Nationals will take place at the Oval, part of an agreement reached between Karate Canada and the Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation back in 2012 to host six major competitions. The venue also was the site of the North American Cup in 2014 and will be again in 2017.
The Steveston Karate Club is expected to be well-represented again and look to continue its remarkable streak of producing at least one national champion for 23 consecutive years.
The local contingent is led by Toshi Uchiage, who has won 13 national senior titles in Kata and 18 overall since he began competing at the junior level when he was 16.
His sisters Hidemi and Sumi Uchiage are Team Canada members that typically are matched up against each other. Hidemi edged Sumi for the gold medal a year ago and was also fourth in the -55 kg Kumite competition.
Another Steveston member to watch is Seiya Takeuchi who has won bronze in the Senior Kata Division the past two years.
The championships will feature the following competitions — Female and Male Individual Kata (five age divisions), Female and Male Team Kata (three age divisions). Female Individual Kumite, Male Individual Kumite, Female Team Kumite and Male Team Kumite.
The Kumite Divisions will feature five age brackets and a variety of weight categories. Nearly 100 B.C. athletes are expected to compete.
Karate joins softball and baseball as sports short-listed for inclusion at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Toyko.
The opening ceremonies are slated for Friday morning with competition continuing through Sunday.
