Sultan family’s fighting chance for karate success

FAMILY fights are part of the norm for the Sultan clan of Broadmeadows, but it’s all in the name of sport.

Siblings Sabah, Ali and Summer will represent Australia in a karate tournament in Japan.

FAMILY fights are part of the norm for the Sultan clan of Broadmeadows, but it’s all in the name of sport.

They are the awesome-foursome, karate kids of the north, and the three oldest siblings will represent Australia at a huge tournament in Japan in July.

Sabah, 14, her brother Ali, 13, and sister Summer, 8, will compete in the World Kumite Organisation (WKO) Junior All tournament in their different age groups on July 31.

The youngest sister Aalia, 6, couldn’t vie for a spot on the family team because the WKO tournament is a full contact sport and she only competes in non-contact events, their father Amer said.

Summer Sultan 8, shows off her karate style. Picture: David Smith

Mr Sultan said Sabah was the poster girl for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Arnold Classic Australia’s Kyokushin Karate competition in March.

At the Arnold tournament, Sabah won a gold and silver medal, Ali also earned gold, while Summer and Aalia both brough home two silver medals.

“The kids love karate and I know they will never be bullied because bullies only attack weak people even though they are weak themselves, and my children know respect and discipline,” Mr Sultan said.

Sabah said karate was about respect and discipline, not fighting.

“Win or lose you have show respect and be humble,” she said.

Sabah Sultanis all set for the big tournament in Japan. Picture: David Smith

She said she had competed against her brother at their local dojo, Fighting Arts Fitness Centre (FAFC) in Glenroy.

“I tease him that I placed first and he was second,” she said.

Sabah and Ali have been at the club for nine years and teach younger students martial arts, while their sisters both started when they were four.

“Being an instructor has given me so much confidence and taught me how to speak to people and show respect to them while they are learning,” Sabah said.

Ali Sultan. Picture: David Smith

The family trains at least four times a week.

Peter Rich, who runs the FAFC dojo, said two other students from the city of Hume — Saleh Amine, 15, from Gladstone Park, and Isabella Volte, 12, of Westmeadows — would also represent Australia at the WKO tournament with about 2000 other students.

The Sultans have been nominated in the junior team category of the Leader Local Sports Star awards.

Three of the Sultan siblings will represent Australia at a karate tournament in Japan.

LEADER LOCAL SPORTS STARS

Leader Local Sports Stars medallists will be named in seven categories including juniors, teams, individuals, and encouragement.

The program is now a national celebration, and junior category winners will be judged for national awards.

Cash prizes as well as vouchers from our sponsor Sportsmart are up for grabs.

CLICK HERE for full details and to nominate an athlete.