Making selection history
RICHARD Basckin and Yonatan Freund have been selected to represent Australia in karate at the world championships, becoming the first Jews to achieve that feat since Danny Hakim in 1990.
RICHARD Basckin and Yonatan Freund have been selected to represent Australia in karate at the world championships, becoming the first Jews to achieve that feat since Danny Hakim in 1990.
Both Sydneysiders were invited to a two-day Australian Karate Federation (AFK) national selection camp in Victoria late last month on the back of strong form at major tournaments. They then had to impress an AFK selection committee – assisted by five World Karate Federation referees flown in for the occasion – in a series of bouts and drills enough to be picked in the 28-member Australian team for the 2017 World Championships to be held in Spain in October.
Only one athlete per division per country can compete at a world championships. Both teenagers train together under national coach George Barounis at Miyagi-Kan Karate Centre in Revesby up to five days per week, and one day with the NSW squad. Basckin, 19, will represent Australia in the men’s U21 60kg division and has an all-time high world ranking of 48 after winning silver medals earlier this year at the Oceania Senior Championships and the Australian Open.
“This is absolutely unreal, because I’ve been training so much lately and it’s been the main thing on my mind,” Basckin told <I>The AJN<P> on Monday. “I got to watch the world championships in Europe last year, and I came back from that so motivated to train harder and qualify. “It’s the first step towards the Olympics.”
The Emanuel School graduate considers his main strengths as his athletic ability and being light on his feet. “There were beep tests and fitness analyses done at the selection camp, and me and Yonatan won them,” he said. “I’d just like to thank both my parents for their continued support and willingness to drive me to training and competitions every week.
“I wouldn’t be able to achieve the level I’m at now if it wasn’t for that, and I’m sure Yonatan feels the same way about his parents.” Freund, 15, will represent Australia in the boys’ cadet 70kg division, and will take confidence from winning a gold medal at the Australian Open.”
The Reddam student said, “I haven’t competed at this level before, but I’ve worked hard and done lots of training, so I’m going to give it a real crack.”
SHANE DESIATNIK
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