SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I.—Team Alberta stole the show in the women’s -59kg and men’s -68kg, capturing a double dose of gold at the penultimate day of kumite competitions at the Canada Winter Games on Wednesday in Summerside, P.E.I.
The Calgary-based teens ran the show in the middle-based weight categories in the sport’s debut at the Canada Winter Games.
After losing her second match, 15-year-old Donya Movaffagh was dominant throughout the double-elimination bracket.
Movaffagh faced Quebec’s Mélody Monfiston in the women’s -59kg final. A hard-fought battle resulted in a 2-0 triumph for the Albertan to solidify the gold at the Multi-Sport Dome in Summerside, P.E.I.
“It feels amazing. I’m honured to be standing here with my teammates, and especially Ethan, with both of us standing here in the first place position,” said Movaffagh. “I have coach Heather to thank, the president of Karate Alberta, because without her I wouldn’t be here right now. I’m just so happy to be standing on the podium representing Alberta, my dojo, my family and myself. It just feels great.”
Inspired to take up the sport while watching her brother’s obsession for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Movaffagh fell in love with the martial arts herself since joining Sabean Karate Academy as a six year old.
Monfiston’s settled for the silver medal.
British Columbia’s Ciara Browne and Nova Scotia’s Denise Thibault snagged a bronze medal each after losing their semi-final matches.
Alberta’s determination continued throughout the men’s -68kg bracket.
Ethan Tomusange’s dreams of winning the Canada Winter Games took an early stumble after losing his first match, but the 16-year-old quickly rebounded and battled his way back to the medal rounds.
Working his way through the double-elimination bracket, Tomusange took the long road to the top step of the podium.
The 16-year-old battled through the next three matches to earn his ticket to the final where he faced British Columbia’s Haruki Mori – the winner of the men’s kata competition – not once, but twice.
Tomusange secured a second bout with Mori after taking down Mori 3-0 in the first match. The young Albertan topped the west coaster 5-3 in the grand finale to take the gold.
“I feel ecstatic. I feel so happy about the work I have put in and the journey have I have been on. Words cannot explain how I’m feeling right now,” said Tomusange. “I’m just so thankful to all of our coaches, Karate Alberta, for creating a healthy environment, and I’m so grateful to my parents right now for getting me into the sport.”
Mori added a silver medal to sit alongside his gold that he won in the kata competition earlier this week.
Nova Scotia’s Dorian Thibault and Quebec’s Mohamed Ilbouche both take home bronze medals.
The karate kumite events wrap up on Thursday at the Canada Winter Games with the women’s +59kg and men’s +68kg classifications.
For more information on Karate Canada, please visit us at www.karatecanada.org.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chris Dornan
Karate Canada
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