Karate: Birss in doubt for Commonwealth champs

New Zealand team captain Braedyn Birss may miss the largest karate international tournament to be held in this country after injuring an ankle at training.

The injury scare has sent shockwaves through the New Zealand camp just days out from the Commonwealth championships, which start on Friday in Wellington.

Karate New Zealand president Leo Donnelly said it was unclear if Birss had suffered tendon damage, but was hopeful the Aucklander would be able to front in the senior men's under 80kg division and team events.

"We're not sure of the extent of the injury but we're hopeful with treatment and rest we can patch him up for the big fights," Donnelly said.

However, he said New Zealand No 1 Tyron Edwards had shaken off a knee injury suffered at the World Games in Germany last month and was fit to take on the Commonwealth's best.

Donnelly said a decision would be made on Birss' fitness later in the week.

Donnelly said about 300 athletes from a dozen countries will take part in the three-day tournament, which is expected to be dominated by England, Australia and New Zealand.

Donnelly said the lineup for the event would feature world champion Rory Daniels, of England, in the men's open kumite as well as World Universities champion Natalie Williams, of England, in the women's under 60kg kumite.

New Zealand team for Commonwealth championships:-

Kata:

Senior men: Travis Butler, Jeremy Adam; senior female: Chikako Monk, Tracey Jenkins; cadet male: Aidan Carr, Brendon Running; cadet female: Ashley Old, Marama Broughton; male 14-15 yrs: Dwain Shuttleworth, Yanosh Irani; female 14-15 yrs: Gemma Falleni; Cleo McCallum; senior women's team: Chikako Monk, Rebecca Keighley, Patricia Reilly, Stephanie Rahardja (reserve); senior men's team: Jeremy Adam, Shamendra Hurbuns, Scott Morgan, Brendon Running (reserve).

Kumite:

Senior men 60kg: Johnny Kennedy; senior men 65kg: Leonard Kong; senior men 75kg: Travis Butler; senior men 75-80kg: Tyron Edwards, Braedyn Birss; senior men +80kg: Chris Bennett, Alexander Sotirovski; senior men open: Tyron Edwards, Chris Bennett; men's team: Tyron Edwards, Braedyn Birss, Chris Bennett, Alex Sotirovski, Travis Butler, Johnny Kennedy; cadet male 60kg: Bryden Joe; cadet male 65kg: Brendon Running, Aidan Carr; cadet male 70kg: Scoota Roche, Thomas Marshall; cadet male 75kg: Tim Cameron; cadet male +75kg: Ryan Pope, Eugene Dukhvonikov; junior cadet male 55kg: Mark Jessett, Dwain Shuttleworth; junior cadet male 65kg: Antonie Webb-Rihari, Jarryd Fon-Lowe; junior cadet male +65kg: Aaron Jessett, Patrick Pene, Daniel Archibald, Jason Felderhof.

Senior female -53kg: Suzanne Yee, Nina Elson; senior female -60kg: Honor Davies, Kylie Rochford; senior female +60kg: Sophie Savill, Stephanie Simmons; senior female open: Sophie Savill, Stephanie Simmons; women's team: Sophie Savil, Stephanie Simmons, Tamara Glynn; cadet female -51kg: Amy Elson; cadet female +57kg: Amy Thomason, Jessie Wang; junior cadet female -51kg: Jasmin Holland, Rachel Harrison; junior cadet female -57kg: Letitia Carr, Rebecca Hamilton; junior cadet female +57kg: McKenzie Tuala-Pine, Luse Tanuvasa, Charlotte Munro, Shannon Ballantine.

- NZPA