Belize’s Largest Karate Delegation Heads To Mexico

Belize is sending its largest-ever delegation to the World Shoto Cup, and sixty-five athletes are carrying the country’s hopes onto the international karate stage. The Belize Shotokan Karate Association left for Merida, Mexico, this morning after months of intense training and preparation. With the tournament held only once every four years, the athletes know this is more than another competition. Before they departed, we caught up with members of the team to hear what it means to wear Belize’s colors and compete against some of the world’s best martial artists.

 

Floyd Lino, Member, Belize Shotokan Karate Association

“This morning our delegation will be traveling to Merida Mexico to partake in the World Shoto Cup for the International Shotokan Karate Association.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Talk about how excited you are and how momentous of an occasion this is.”

 

Floyd Lino

“Well, we are very excited to be representing Belize, because the Shoto Cup is a once every four-year event. It started in the year 2000. The first country that hosted it was Canada. Thereafter it moved to the Philippines and then South Africa, England and now Mexico. We are very privileged. This is the biggest delegation we are taking to such an event, I think sixty-five participants we have this time around as an association. So, we are representing this time around.”

 

Suzanne Singh, Representative, St. Joseph Shotokan Dojo

“The whole world of Shotokan is going to be there. I am just really happy to be a part of the group that is representing Belize.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How do you view the preparations that went into this?”

 

Suzanne Singh

“Grueling, tough, really tough. This is my sensei back here and he is tough. It has been really exciting, a lot of work, and hopefully we come back with some medal.”

 

Five members of the delegation will be participating in belt tests for possible promotions. 

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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