Russian athlete wins international karate-do tournament

The Oyama Cup - the main prize of the 9th international tournament in kyokushinkai karate-do tournament which ended in Khabarovsk (the centre of the Far-Eastern region bearing the same name) - was presented to local athlete Artem Poukas. The competition was organised by the East-Russian organisation of kyokushinkai karate-do and by the government of the Khabarovsk Territory. Taking part in it were the most experienced athletes from different regions of Russia and guests from Japan. The Oyama Cup was established in honour of founder of this type of single combat Matsushito Oyama from Japan. Russian karatekas from the Far East - Sergei Semenov from Amursk and Sergei Plekhanov from Birobidzhan - won this tournament in the past years. As the organisers of the tournament announced, its winners will be included in the team of Russia at the prestigious competition in Sao-Paulo (Brazil), and then, in 2003, will participate in the eighth world championship in kyokushinkai karate-do in Tokyo.