Several Smithers residents are headed to Greece this month for the Martial Arts World Championships.
“I’m very honoured when I have students qualify for an event like this,” said Shogun Dojo Owner Marwan Abu Khadra.
Callie Lancaster, one of the athletes participating, said she started martial arts after taking her kids to the world championship in Calgary last year.
“I wasn’t sure if [going] was even going to be a possibility and it’s an amazing opportunity to be representing my category for Canada,” she said.
Her kids, Scotia and Justice Lancaster are also participating.
For Remington Raven, his goal at the championship is to progress further than he did last year.
“I only ended up competing in one fight, but it was good experience and think I did good,” he said.
Leo Drydyk also competed in Calgary which he said was the first tournament he participated in.
“My goal is to fight my hardest, never give up, and go for gold,” he said.
Mixed emotions were felt by Kharim Abu Khadra after he learning he qualified for his fifth world championship.
“I’m excited because it’s Greece. At the same time, I have nerves going to the world championships because it’s the world championships,” he said.
Several others from Smithers also qualified for the event but won’t be attending for various reasons.
The competition in Rhodes, Greece runs October 21st to 25th.
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