Westborough's Massdojo Scores Big At USA Karate-Do Nationals

WESTBOROUGH — Massdojo of Westborough sent 29 athletes to Schaumburg, Ill. for the 2021 USA National Karate-do Federation (USANKF) national championships and team trials during Labor Day weekend.

The 29 athletes brought home 44 gold medals, 16 silver and 17 bronze.

Nine students came back individual national champions. Three of the students won both their individual events in kata (forms) and Kumite (sparring).

Two of the teams athletes were successful in their first attempt to make the Junior USA karate team.

Vedant Kotnis, 15 of Westborough, won two decisive matches, and faced a much more experienced fighter in his championship round. He took a decisive lead 4-1, but was injured and his opponent scored 6 unanswered points. Vedant still held an advantage by scoring first, and scored a last second head kick to take the championship and the #1 seed in USA.

The other Westborough individual champions were residents Khanak Patel, 11, Achintya Thamatan, 8, Nakshatra Ramesh, 9, and Shriya Kumsi, 11.

Massdojo teaches Shotokan karate which is well known traditional Japanese style of karate: Sensei Eric Rossini has been training in karate for over 25 years and is a highly respected competitor, instructor and coach, according to Massdojo's website.