2011 Junior World Champs, Melaka, Malaysia, 13-16 October

Nicky Roberts competed for New Zealand in the World Under 21 Karate Championships in Melaka, Malaysia and had an excellent record. She reached the quarter finals in the Women's Kata event, becoming the first NZ woman to ever reach a kata quarter final at a World Championship.

However, her success was tinged with regret as it could have been so much better. She progressed through the preliminary rounds with no problems, defeating on the way Canada and the Netherlands. However, in her quarter final against HongKong, Nicky's leg cramped badly towards the end of her kata,(Chatanyara Kushanku) making her stumble, which, in top international competition is enough to ensure a loss. If she had won against Hongkong (who put out Superinpei ) it would have put Nicky in the mat final, competing against Vietnam.

We will never know whether she would have won, but even a loss to Vietnam would have ensured Nicky a repecharge for third, which would have been difficult to lose, as up until her cramped leg she was looking absolutely superb in what was an extremely competitive event. Quite simply, the world championships have just one athlete from each country, that country's best, so the standard is the highest possible.

We analysed the reasons for her cramp the next day, and they were not caused by lack of fluids, as Nicky was very well hydrated. By putting in place some simple preventative measures, (which were not in place before these championships) in the final days leading up to a tournament, may have prevented this, however,  hopefully this will not occur in the future, as Nicky continues her search for her first World Championships medal.

Nicky is absolutely certain this will occur, and sooner rather than later. As Nicky has repeatedly said, she has unfinished business in Karate, and with Hasegawa Sensei  continuing to visit us in NZ every year, with his teaching and help, Nicky will continue her steady climb to becoming a world class kata competitor.

Bob Dalton