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November 9, 2024
The Hona News
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Ja’s ‘Karate Kid’ in top 24 of the World Karate Federation rankings

Ja’s ‘Karate Kid’ in top 24 of the World Karate Federation rankings

Whenever he is travelling for competition, 14-year-old Rasandre Evans has always attracted attention. Many admirers say he has a close resemblance to Jaden Smith from the Karate Kid movie, only to find out he is a real karate kid! The national karate representative has also been recently ranked among the top 30 competitors globally from his age and weight class.Following the 2024 Junior Pan American Karate Championships in Brazil and an update in the World Karate Federation ranking, Evans is now ranked among the top 24 athletes in the world in the Cadet Male – 57 kg category. Evans said although he is proud of his achievements, he is looking forward to more improvements in his performance .”The best part about competing is the support we give one another in the Caribbean. Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Curacao. They are all my brothers and sisters. Every time, I compete internationally, I am proud of my Caribbean roots and my Jamaican heritage. I want to bring Jamaica more medals. It is my mission.” Evans said.President of Jamaica Karate Federation, Tony Robinson, says Evans’ performance is one for the history books.”He has made us very proud with his performances. It is the first time we have a karate athlete among the top 24 in the world ranking. It is a great milestone for Jamaica Karate, but this is just the beginning,” Robinson said.Evans’ coach and national karate representative Valentyna Zolotarova said he is capable of improving on his successes in the sport.”Apart from his physical skills and his work ethic, Rasandre has the capacity to listen and understand very complex tactics. He is always reading and he is very intelligent and that helps him in the ring. Karate is as much physical as it is mental,” Zolotarova said.Evans has already had some notable performances under the banner of Jamaica.Prior to the division change, Evans won bronze in the 12-13 year-old category at the 2024 Central American and Caribbean Championships in March. He also medalled at the Confederacion Centro Americana y del Caribe (CCCK) in 2024 and won a gold medal at the 2023 Canada Open and a silver medal at the 2023 Caribbean Championships. This was his second year in a row on the podium after two years of top five results at the Junior Pan American Championships.Following his birthday in June and a change in age and weight category, he competed at the Caribbean Karate Championships in Curacao where he won a silver medal. Evans went on to the 2024 Junior Pan American Championships where he won against opponents from Chile and Aruba but lost his quarter final to a Panamanian in Sao Paulo.In addition to being ranked among the top 24 in this kumite category, Evans is also in the top 76 athletes in kata in his age category.With all eyes on the 2026 Youth Olympic Games set to take place in Dakar, Senegal, the Jamaica Karate Federation says they are encouraged by the performance of the junior national team in kumite. They are also committed to the further development of kata in preparation for the 2027 Central American and Caribbean Games and the 2027 Pan American Games.

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