By EMMA KELLY
DANIEL Tielen of Dandenong’s AM Shukokai Karate Club will fight for gold in Greece next month.
Tielen will represent Australia in the World Karate Federation Youth World Cup on July 7 and 8.
Club administration manager Monica Anselmi said Tielen had recovered from a fractured elbow he sustained in the Australian Karate Federation Australian Open last April.
“He lost four to six weeks of training,” she said. “It’s been full on as he’s had to recover all the time missed.”
She said Tielen had trained four to five days a week since his recovery. “Those selected won the nationals and the [AKF] Australian Open,” she said.
“They’ve done drills and training with the aid of national selectors. I think he’ll do quite good.”
Anselmi said another club member qualified for the cup but was unable to raise enough funds to travel to Greece.
She said it was important that the community supported the club and its talent.
One opportunity is by attending the AM Shukokai Karate Club’s annual Alan Murdoch Cup on Sunday. The all-day tournament will kick-start the club’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
Anselmi said the tournament was named after former sensei and club founder Alan Murdoch, who died a couple of years ago.
She said all money raised would support the club’s youth. “We usually get over 100 competitors.”
The tournament will be held at the Dandenong District Netball Stadium at Greaves Reserve, Bennet Street, Dandenong. Cost: $10 for adults, $7 for children and pensioners and $25 for groups. Children under seven enter free.
For inquiries or ticket sales, call the club on 9794 6005.
■ Four AM Shukokai Karate Club members competed at the Indonesia Open Karate Championship in Jakarta over the weekend.
Maria Alexiadis, Stephaenie Harris and Boris Illic were selected for the Australian team. Kit Fullinfaw also competed in the open.
Club administration manager Monica Anselmi said she had high hopes for the competitors.
“They’re very good, strong fighters. They’ve been overseas before so have experience in overseas competition.”
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