Mangaluru: The students of the Institute of Karate and Martial Arts (IKMA), Mangaluru, representing Dakshina Kannada and Karnataka, have delivered a historic performance in the WAKO India Sub-Junior and Junior National Kickboxing Championship.Addressing the media on Wednesday, Satyajit Surathkal, president, Karnataka Kickboxing Sports Association, announced that the IKMA students have achieved a remarkable achievement by giving excellent performances in the competition organised by the Amateur Sports Kickboxing Association, Madhya Pradesh, at the WAKO India Sub-Junior National Level Kickboxing Championship 2026 held from June 17 to 21 at Indore Public School, Madhya Pradesh.The academy’s sub-junior team of 15 participants secured 11 gold, two silver and nine bronze medals, and out of the total 20 gold medals won by the Karnataka state delegation, 11 of them were secured by IKMA athletes, Dakshina Kannada, setting a national record for the highest number of gold medals won by any single district or academy across India in the history of the championship, he added.He further said that the academy’s junior athletes of five participants won three gold, one silver and three bronze medals at the WAKO India Junior National Kickboxing Championship held in Khordha, Odisha, from May 30 to June 3.All seven medals won by Karnataka at the junior nationals were secured exclusively by these Dakshina Kannada athletes, and the athletes who secured the first and second positions have been officially selected to represent the Indian national team at the upcoming World Championship in Italy.Chief instructor Nithin N Suvarna and trainer Sampath Kumar were present.
