India win 7 medals in Commonwealth karate meet

Indian Karate players have won two gold and 5 bronze medals in the Commonwealth Championship Edinburgh.

India has won seven medals, including two of the golden hue, in the fourth Commonwealth Karate Championship held in Edinburgh.

The medallists, including gold winners Anirudh Sakpal and Seeta Salgia Patel were felicitated here yesterday by the All India Karate Federation.

“This the first time India have won medals (two gold and five bronze) in 30 years of AIKF’s participation in international meets and this is a red letter day for karate in the country,” said Sensei Vispy Kapadia, the Vice President of the Federation and chief coach of the team.

Story continues below this ad

The medallists were honoured in the presence of chief guest and Mumbai Commissioner of Police, Hasan Gafoor, at the Cricket Club of India.

Sixteen Indian players took part in the championship in which over 1800 competitors took part, including more than 300 each from Britain and South Africa.

“India have been awarded the right to host the next Commonwealth meet and it will be held under the stewardship of our president Sensei Thiagarajan at Chennai in June, 2009,” said Kapadia.

Thiagarajan was also chosen as vice president of the Commonwealth Karate Federation while Kapadia has earned a berth on its executive council.

Story continues below this ad

Kapadia, with over three decades of experience in the martial arts who coaches the Mumbai police force, is to guide the Indian team in the first World Youth Championship World Cup to be held in Greece next month.

The next World Karate Championship is to be held at Tokyo in November, Thiagarajan said.

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

Statehood protest takes violent turn in Ladakh, BJP office set ablaze in Leh

India8 hr ago

Protests in Ladakh turned violent as students and youth organisations demanded statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Two elderly protesters fainted, prompting a shutdown call. A BJP office and security vehicle were set on fire. Activist Sonam Wangchuk urged for a peaceful approach. The demand for Sixth Schedule status is due to Ladakh's tribal-majority population and direct central administration.

View all shorts

Live Blog