Sri Vijaya Puram, May 15: Athletes from the Global Academy of Modern Fitness created history while representing India at the prestigious 22nd Okinawa Goju-Ryu Ipoh City Open Karate Championship 2026 held in Malaysia from May 8 to 10, 2026. The international championship was organized by the Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate Do Federation Malaysia in association with the Perak Karate Do Association.
The talented contingent brought immense pride to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by delivering an outstanding performance and securing a total of 12 medals in the championship, including 2 Gold medals, 8 Silver medals and 2 Bronze medals against strong international competition.
Among the participants, Aayana Kar emerged as the star performer of the tournament by becoming a double champion and winning Gold medals in both Kata and Kumite categories. P. Dhanishta also performed exceptionally well and secured Silver medals in Kata and Kumite events. Ishika Sarkar added to the medal tally by winning Silver medals in both Kata and Kumite categories, while S. Jey Prakash also claimed Silver medals in Kata and Kumite competitions.
Sudiksha Das delivered an impressive performance by securing a Bronze medal in Kata and a Silver medal in Kumite. Similarly, S. Prakashraj won a Bronze medal in Kata along with a Silver medal in Kumite, contributing significantly to the overall success of the Indian contingent.
The team trained under the leadership of Main Chief Trainer Shihan MS Murugan and Key Trainer Sensei M. Manikandan, whose mentorship and continuous support helped the island athletes shine on the international stage and bring laurels to the country and the islands.
