Campbell River’s Valerie Doyon added to her growing collection of hardware last weekend when she brought back a bronze medal from the Panamerican Karate Federation’s Junior and Cadet championships in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
But she came out of the competition much more excited about qualifying to compete for Team Canada in the World Karate Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, this November.
“I was No. 1 in points in Canada, but was waiting for after the Pan-Ams to see how Hana (Furumoto-Deshaies) would do,” said Doyon, of Campbell River’s Shito-Ryu Seiko-Kai Karate Club. “I’m still ahead, therefore I was the one selected to go to the world championships, which is very exciting.”
The PKF competition was Doyon’s first in the adult division after turning 18 this summer.
She already has a silver medal from the Canadian Nationals and a gold from the North America Cup in Las Vegas in the 17-year-old division on her resume this year, and won bronze with Canada’s U21 female kumite team last weekend.
She was an alternate on the four-member team with Camelie Boisvenue, Trysten Deveau and Furumoto-Deshaies, and did not actually fight.
“I was honoured to be selected, and I still had to be warmed up and ready to go into a fight,” Doyon said. “But I don’t feel like I put in as much effort as the other girls, so it’s kind of bittersweet.
“I would have loved to have fought.”
After dropping its opening match against Chile, the U21 Canada team went on to defeat USA and Mexico to claim bronze — as well as the unofficial top spot among North American teams.
The gold medal was won by Venezuela, with Chile claiming silver.
In individual competition, Doyon got only one fight in the U21 under-61 kg class. After scoring the first point against Argentina’s Melina Martinez, a two-time veteran of the Pan American Games, Doyon finished the match in a 1-1 draw. Martinez was then awarded the win by a 3-2 in hantei, a judges’ decision.
“It was really unfortunate; I was really mad,” Doyon said of the loss. “I thought I was OK because I had more flags go to me, 6-2. I attacked more.”
Competitors may return to the bracket after a loss through repêchage if their opponent advances into the medal round. But Martinez lost her next bout, ending Doyon’s chances to rejoin the competition. The weight class drew 15 entrants, with Venezuela’s Oriana Rodriguez claiming the gold medal.
“Whenever it goes to a judges’ decision it’s not the best situation,” she said. “But I was just happy to be there. I was probably one of the youngest, if not the youngest, people in the competition.”
It was the second consecutive trip for Doyon to the PKF Championships in South America.
She departs this week to study at the University of Ottawa and train for the world championships.
