Gold medalist in the kata under-12 white-orange and kumite +30kg categories of the recent Zainab Saleh Female Karate International Championship in Lagos, Sonia Tunimi has dedicated the prize to her mother, coach and class mates.
The Delta State champion, a primary four student of Zappa Primary School in Asaba, said she is following in the footsteps of her mother, Zipamoh Favor, who sports247.ng recounts is a former national champion.
Tunimi disclosed further that she owes her success so early in karate to her mother, because it was her mum that made her fall in love with the sport and continues to encourage her on a daily basis.
The 11-year-old Tunimi said she started learning karate in 2018 and got an immediate breakthrough after defeating all her opponents at an in-house competition organised by Delta State Karate Association.
Tunimi disclosed: “My mother was a former national champion. She won gold for Delta State at the 2009 National Sports Festival in Kaduna.
“I feel my mother wants me to follow her footsteps and become greater than her. I want to win a gold medal at an African Championship for her.
“I am dedicating this medal to my mother, my coach, and my classmates at school. I promise to be a good ambassador of Delta State.”
