Aline Irakoze, a 16-year-old national team debutante, on Saturday, July 26, defied the odds to reach the finals in the juniors’ individual kumite under 53 kilo division of the 2025 African Karate Championships, in Abuja, Nigeria. ALSO READ: Renowned South African instructor San Pillay ‘truly impressed’ by Rwandan karatekas Thirteen karatekas are representing Rwanda at the African Karate Championships. The national team in Abuja is more than two times bigger than the squad that won three medals at the 11th Commonwealth Karate Championships 2024, in Durban, South Africa. ALSO READ: Rwanda's Commonwealth silver, bronze medals signal 'so much potential' The senior three student of GS Kagugu Catholique was conquered (7-0) by a more experienced opponent, Senegal's Mame Boye Faye, in the final round. But convincing wins against Benin's Daphine Shika Garba Imorou (8-0) and Madagascar's Andhy Malalaniaiana Revelonarivo (2-1) in her first and second matches secured Rwanda’s first medal, silver, at the tournament. ALSO READ: Karate: Yezakuzwe’s sudden rise speaks to country’s untapped potential Earlier in the day, before the kumite duels, Irakoze competed in the Kata contests in her weight category and emerged fifth. Players from over 30 countries are competing for medals in three divisions: cadets (14–15 years), juniors (16–17 years), and seniors. There is hope Rwanda could win more medals on Sunday when members of the senior team do battle. In 2018, when the continental championships were held in Kigali, Maic Shyaka Ndutiye, then 17, won gold, marking the first time a Rwandan athlete had achieved the feat in an international karate tournament. Seven years later, Shyaka who is now pursuing a bachelors degree in business information communication technology at Mount Kigali University, has gained some more experience and is positive. In Abuja, the second-year university student will aim to do better than the silver medal he bagged during last year’s 11th Commonwealth Karate Championships, in Durban, South Africa.
