16-year-old Tenure native Lily Sheeran has won gold for her country at the 2023 WUKF World Championships, which concluded in Dundee, Scotland, just over a week ago.
Lily, who fights out of Red Dragon Martial Arts in Ballsgrove, Drogheda, competes in kumite (sparring between two competitors), in which she also holds the national title, and is unbeaten in Ireland.
The competition was truly global: the WUKF (World Union of Karate-Do Federations) is one of the largest karate governing bodies in the world, and nearly 2000 competitors from over 30 countries showed up to take their chance.
Lily, who is coached by her father Peter Sheeran, had to make her way through a category of 41 fighters before beating last year’s champion in the final.
Her success here is a magnificent follow-up to the three gold medals she won at the GB Open in Birmingham this spring, and predicts a bright competitive career.
Lily attends Our Ladies College in Greenhills, Drogheda.