Five Western Province karate fighters will represent South Africa at the Kyokushin Karate world championships in Russia next week.
The Cape Town karatekas are part of a 10-man South African team who will compete in Moscow, the other five coming from Gauteng.
The Capetonians are Gavin Smith from Kuils River, Barry Gelderblom and Erick Wright (all three in the under-80kg division), Roger Williams (under-70kg) and Eric Snyders, an open weight fighter.
Smith was last year's national Len Barnes Open champion in the under-80kg category and is expected to do well at the world event.
"Gavin is a precocious fighter whose good hand combinations keep his opponents on the back foot," said chairman of Kyokushin-Africa Hennie Bosman.
At only 17, Bellville's Gelderblom won this year's Len Barnes Open.
Gelderblom, the youngest member of the team, has been SA junior champion for the last three years.
Another Len Barnes Open winner (under-70kg) in the team is Roger Williams from Kuils River.
Bosman said with Williams there was always a chance of a knockout.
"Roger's tremendous high kicks make him a dangerous opponent and a knockout is always on the cards."
The team was selected over the last two years. "Fighters who placed high in the Len Barnes International tournament and the best-placed fighters were selected," said Bosman.
Parow's Wright and Delmar-based Snyders also carry a lot of expectation. The 47-year-old Snyders won first place at the national tournament.
South Africa is ranked 10th in the world. They will be among 189 fighters competitors from 37 countries.
The team, to be coached by Gauteng's Collen Sedoaba, will be captained by Gauteng's Ben Sidwaba who has been SA open champion for eight years and has represented the country in five international competitions.
Sidwaba was last year rated third in the Russian Open tournament in Moscow and is expected to finish in the top three.
- SA team: Gavin Smith, Barry Gelderblom, Erick Wright, Roger Williams, Eric Snyders (Western Province); Ben Sidwaba (captain), Thabo Lebina, Linda Ngubane, Mandla Ndlela, Tshepiso Lesiba (Gauteng)