Giselle earns Shotokan Karate World bronze

Laronde-West competed against seven persons in her kata division, placing third behind two Italians.

Her son, Kristof West accompanied her to compete in his 16- 17 age group division. He did not make it past the preliminaries in kata but won his first kumite fight against his rival from Belgium to enter the semi-finals where he was defeated by a South African.

This is the second World Championship he has competed in, the last one being the 11th in Australia.

Laronde-West also gained a bronze medal there and performed at the 10th championship in Greece.

Both athletes belong to SKIF Trinidad and Tobago (SKIFTT ), headed by 7th Dan, Neville Mason.

SKIFTT is one of almost 200 other organisations around the world under SKIF. At the championships, the karatekas expressed excitement that karate will be allowed into the 2020 Olympics which takes place in Toky, Japan.