Accra, June 2, GNA - The national men's senior Karate team emerged the top team at the just ended UFAK Zone 3 International Karate Championship held in Niger after they grabbed six medals.

Captain of the team, Victor Lartey won gold in the individual kata category considered the coveted prize in Karate competitions. A statement signed by Patrick Anyidoho-Cofie, General Secretary of the Ghana Karate-Do Association copied to GNA Sports said it was the fourth time Lartey had won gold in the individual category in the 2004, 2006 and 2007 events.

Lartey also teamed up with Jerry Williams and Richard Graham to claim silver in the Team Kata category after losing to hosts Niger in the final. Ghana also won two medals in the Kumite category with Bright Tetteh claiming silver in the 67-kg weight division and Awa Jeanu grabbing a bronze medal in the 60-kg division.

Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Togo and Benin were the other participants at the championship held from Monday, May 24 to Sunday, May 30 in Niamey, Niger.

The tourney also served as the qualifier for the African Karate Championship to be held in South Africa in August this year. In a related development, Technical Director of the Ghana team, Saadisu Mahama Iddrisu was appointed a member of the UFAK Zone Technical Commission, the body that is empowered to review the decisions of referees and judges at tournaments.