Local teen wins silver medal at Panamerican Karate Championship

Written By MARNI WALSH

    When 18 year old Daniel Mustapha went through customs at Pearson Airport, after a return flight from Panama City on March 26,  he had a significant claim to make. The Amaranth teenager was bringing home a Silver Medal from the 33rd Panamerican Karate Championships in Panama City.

Daniel, who has Cerebral Palsy, competed in the Intellectual Challenges Division and won out over elite para competitors from South, Central and North America. Daniel competed on Thursday and Sunday for finals at the Roberto Duran Stadium in Panama City. In the final round against Cristian Reyes of Chile, Daniel was awarded the Silver Medal. Simon Langlois-Gauthier, also from Canada, won the Bronze medal.

Daniel qualified for the Panamerican Championships when he won gold at the Karate Canadá Senior National Championships in Gatineau, Quebec earlier this year. “The experience in Panama was amazing,” Daniel told the Free Press. “I would like to thank my family for supporting me, as well as my Senseis and Karate Canada coaches.” 

Those Karate Canada coaches in Panama City, included Heather Fidyk and Kraig Devlin. Here in Ontario, Daniel trains with Sensei Veronica Ramos de Lugo from Dojo Seienchin and Sensei Khaleghpanah from Goju Do in Brampton, as well as Shihan Tanzadeh.

The intricate and intensive sport of Karate requires a grace and focus that presents additional challenges for Para Athletes such as Daniel. 

“I started the sport when I was five years old and have worked hard for thirteen years to get where I am,” he says. He has been competing in elite tournaments for the last two years. “Karate has taught me honesty, integrity, loyalty, time, patience and focus,”  says the Champion.

Daniel's parents Graciela and Max Mustapha say Daniel met many competitors like himself at the tournament, and made amazing friends. “We are all very proud of him.” 

Daniel's twin brother Nicholas is also an elite Karate athlete. Nicholas will be competing in May at the Junior National Championships in Edmonton. Graciela Mustapha says the twins qualified for Team Ontario for the last two years, but this year they qualified for both the Senior and the Junior teams.

The brothers are training hard, but financial sponsorship is vital to reaching their goals and representing Canada in the sport. As can be imagined, the cost of supporting, not one, but two elite athletes in the family... with training, gear, and travel to international competitions...is substanial.

Daniel is very grateful to all his “sponsors and friends for their support.” He says he is “looking forward to competing in the World Championships in Dubai in 2020, and further with the Ontario Karate Federation and Karate Canada.”

“With the Olympics around the corner, and Karate being included for the first time, we are working very hard,” says Daniel. He and Nicholas are hoping for sponors to help them realize their “dream of representing Canada in Karate worldwide.” You can follow the Mustapha twins on Instagram and Facebook and sponsor their made-in-Dufferin accomplishment at www.gofundme.com/help-daniel-and-nicholas-compete-this-year, or by calling 519-925-2742 or 416-708-9817, or by email: gracielamustapha@yahoo.com.