São Paulo – Morocco should host the World Junior and Cadet Karate Championship in the Infant and Youth categories (with athletes aged 14 to 15); Juvenile (athletes aged 16 to 17) and Junior (athletes aged 18 to 20) between November 12th to 15th. The championship should take place in the country capital, Rabat, and should bring together 80 countries.
Brazil may take up to 30 athletes to the competition, but the final number depends on the availability of funds. "The competitors do not receive government funds. Each athlete needs to seek his own sponsorship,” said the president of the Brazilian Karate Federation, Edgar Ferraz.
According to Ferraz, the greatest chance of a medal for Brazil is in the Junior category, with Fernando Lacerda Braga, aged 18.
Fighting Karate since the age of four, Braga has been a member of the Brazilian team since 2004 and has already won six São Paulo state championships, five Brazilian championships and two South American championships.
This should be the athlete’s second participation in world championships. The first was in 2007, in Turkey. He says that his expectations for the edition in Morocco are the best possible. “I want to get there and win. I believe I can do it,” he said.
*Translated by Mark Ament
