Karate Alba students Jamie Borthwick and Leo Erdmanis earn podium spots at Swedish Open Championships

Two Karate Alba students travelled to Kristianstad over the weekend to compete in the Swedish Open Championships – each earning a spot on their respective podiums with bronze medals.

Jamie Borthwick (15) won four out of his five rounds by a 5-0 scoreline, only losing to a Swedish athletes who has already made it on to the World Karate Federation ranking board.

The Charleston Academy pupil has been dominant in Scotland, winning three national gold medals in recent months, and is aiming to represent his country for the first time at the Junior World Championships in Italy in October.

In Sweden, Borthwick was joined by 12-year-old Leo Erdmanis. The Millburn Academy pupil is also a Scottish champion in the 10-12-year-old age group.

While his future is clearly a bright one, it was not to be in Kristianstad, only just missing out on a higher step on the podium after a slight loss of balance.

Both boys are due to go back on the road again this coming weekend, joining a bigger Karate Alba squad travelling down to Penrith for the Cumbrian Open Championships.

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