Jamaica Karate will send its first ever delegation to the XXXI U21 Pan-American Karate Championships set to take place in Mexico City from August 25-27.

Twenty-one national sport federations have entered their best youth athletes to compete for the continental title. Amelia Stephenson, Shafan Leslie and Rasandre Evans  will compete at their first Junior PKF Championships and the first for the Jamaica Karate Federation. They will face competitors from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Following the tournament, they will also participate in an international training camp organized by Panam Sports and the Pan-American Karate Federation – a first of its kind.

They will train for 10 days at the Mexican Olympic Training Centre along with an internationally renowned Coach Salah Mesnaoui of Belgium and some of the best international athletes in their weight and age categories.

“This competition and training camp aligns with our long-term strategic goal to expose our youth athletes to more international tournaments and training in an aim to improve competition readiness for key qualification events preceding the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the 2028 Olympic Games,” the Jamaica Karate Federation (JKF) said in a statement.

“The Jamaica Karate Federation is working in unison toward a vision aiming to put Jamaican karate on the world map. This initial step would not have been possible without the generous support of the Jamaican Olympic Association, the Sport Development Foundation, McKay Security and CEO Jason McKay.”

The athletes will be supported by senior national team members Khalil Gordon and Valentyna Zolotarova, who attained their international coaching licenses at the Senior Pan-American Championships last year. Zolotarova has also attained a WKF Coaching license at the 2021 World Championships in Dubai and has served in the role of Technical Coordinator since being awarded a Qualification of Distinction in the Post-Graduate Program in International Sport Management at the University of London in June 2022.

This achievement is an excellent testament to the kinds of opportunities that are made available to members of sport federations affiliated with the Jamaican Olympic Association. As a JOA member, Zolotarova received a full scholarship from the Commonwealth Games Federation and the World Academy of Sport.

In addition to the achievements of Jamaican youth karate-ka, Vice-President Keith Edwards will also make history as the first judge to attend a Pan-American Championship on behalf of Jamaica Karate.

“The Jamaica Karate Federation President Tony Robinson has made tremendous efforts to maximize opportunities for our delegation and all members are deeply thankful for his leadership and care. Good luck to our athletes in the initial steps toward our unified long-term goals.”