P.E.I. athletes gearing up for karate’s Canada Video games debut

The countdown is on for the 2023 Canada Winter Video games to be held in P.E.I. beginning Feb. 18.

Inside Charlottetown Martial Arts, P.E.I. karate college students are preparing for his or her Canada Video games debut. 

“I’ve seen the stadium the place we’re gonna be,” mentioned Joshbir Roy, who will compete in kata.

“After we go in there, I am fairly certain it’ll be good, actually. And I am form of scared, however I am excited for it, too.”

It is not only a new expertise for the P.E.I. athletes. That is the primary time for karate within the competitors.

“It is the primary time for Canada in both the Winter or Summer season Video games,” mentioned P.E.I. head coach Collin Affleck. 

“Having a chance for these younger athletes to take part in a multi-sport occasion much like the Olympics, that form of expertise of their karate careers is fairly important and I am glad to be a part of it.”

‘I can not wait’

In line with Affleck, the province can ship as much as 9 athletes to compete. Solely 5 can be representing the province this time. 

Along with Roy, Mark Seemann, Jayce Mills, Bria Wong and Sarvessh Dhanasekar can even be there. All have been learning the game for years.

“I used to be very excited [because] I by no means imagined that karate could be thought of a sport within the Canada Video games,” mentioned Dhanasekar. “I can not wait to be on the spot and wave the flag and cheer ‘Go Crew P.E.I.'”

The staff has been assembly at Charlottetown Martial Arts to practise for the previous few months.

The classes do not solely concentrate on bodily abilities however psychological preparation as nicely.

“It is the primary sport that I have been in that I’ve truly felt captivated with,” mentioned Mills. 

“It is not that in style right here, if you have not seen. I have never seen as many individuals right here as I’ve in different provinces who take part and I believe it will be actually cool to have the ability to share it with the neighborhood.”

Rising the game

Erick Silva, Karate P.E.I.’s previous president, agrees. He mentioned there have been efforts for years to get karate included within the Canada Video games.

“We hope the publicity on the Canada Video games … not solely in P.E.I. however throughout the nation  … will give us alternative to develop and develop a brand new technology of athletes,” mentioned Silva. 

“Not solely on the nationwide degree however on the worldwide degree, too.”

Silva and Affleck each hope to see karate included in future Canada Video games as nicely. 

“Extra protection like this, I believe, will deliver extra folks to the game, hopefully, and get extra folks concerned and create that chance for others sooner or later,” mentioned Affleck.

The athletes perceive what’s forward and have labored arduous towards it, he mentioned.

“I believe they’re gonna do very nicely,” he mentioned. “I believe they’ve all been making ready very, very arduous. I am proud of all of them, it doesn’t matter what occurs.”