Namibia's karate team won 42 medals at the 23rd UFAK Region South Karate Championships held in Angola from 14 to 17 May 2026.

The team collected four gold medals, 13 silver medals and 25 bronze medals during the four-day competition.

The championships ended on 17 May 2026 in Angola, where Namibian karate athletes competed against participants from across Southern Africa.

The highlight of the tournament came in the Male Team Kata division, where the Namibian trio of Keanu Stuurman, Gino Sibattie and Dylan Grove won the gold medal and secured the team trophy for Namibia.

Stuurman competed in the senior category for athletes aged 21 and above and returned home with three medals: one gold and two bronze medals.

He said the atmosphere in Angola was intense, with loud crowds and home supporters creating a challenging environment for visiting athletes.

Furthermore, he said mental preparation and focus helped him throughout the competition despite the pressure.

He revealed that he won his opening Kata round 5-0 before losing 3-2 to a South African opponent in the semi-finals.

However, he bounced back to defeat an Angolan competitor 5-0 in the bronze medal match.

Stuurman also praised Namibia's coaching staff for preparing the athletes during training camps ahead of the championships.

According to Stuurman, Namibia's gold medal success in the Team Kata event motivated the rest of the squad, especially as it marked the country's first senior Team Kata appearance since 2019.

Namibia's medal haul reflects the country's progress in African karate as athletes now shift their focus to the upcoming African Championships later this year, he said.