Kevin Bigirimana secures silver in Japanese Ambassador Karate-do

Ashesi University athlete Kevin Bigirimana earned a silver medal in the Lightweight Division at the 2026 Japanese Ambassador Karate-do Championships held on October 24. The performance marks a significant achievement for the university's sports programme, highlighting the competitive level of student-athletes in national martial arts competitions. Bigirimana's path to the podium involved a series of dominant performances in the early stages of the tournament. He successfully navigated through three consecutive bouts, showcasing technical skill and tactical discipline to secure a place in the final. However, in a closely contested championship match, he narrowly lost to an opponent from the Kokusai Karate Club by a single point, finishing as the runner-up in his weight class. Reflecting on the achievement, Coach Dickson Acolatse emphasized that Bigirimana's success serves as a testament to the possibility of excelling in both academics and sports simultaneously. The coach noted that the silver medal was the result of the athlete's unwavering consistency and determination throughout his training regimen. Acolatse further suggested that such performances encourage other students to pursue excellence beyond the classroom. The Japanese Ambassador Karate-do Championships remains a premier event on the national karate calendar, offering athletes across various divisions a platform to exhibit their proficiency. Bigirimana’s silver medal adds to the growing profile of Ashesi University in the Ghanaian collegiate sports scene, reinforcing the values of discipline and perseverance inherent in karate-do.