Luana Herrera: the 10-year-old karateka's struggle to find financial support to go to the Scotland World Championships [VIDEO]

Luana Herrera will be part of the Peruvian delegation that will travel to Scotland, but she must cover the expenses of traveling to the Old Continent as she will have to undergo a training base in Madrid. Although the trip is still in July, the family must guarantee the trip by the end of March in order to be part of the competition.

The young girl learned the sport two years ago in a summer class in a park in Callao. Since then, she has not stopped doing karate and competes both in kumite and kata. Last December, she was informed that after the Selective Meeting held in Lima, she secured a spot for the Dundee World Championship of the WUKF (World Union of Karate Federations) in June. WUKF is an organization that brings together more than 150 members, and Peru is represented by OIKS Peru, the International Organization of Shotokan Karate.

With an orange belt and 10 years old, she competed in kata and secured the spot. She couldn't compete in kumite, but based on her level, they are evaluating if she can also qualify in that modality, as she also wants to compete in combat.

“Luana is 10 years old and was the girl with the highest score among older girls, with green and blue belts. She qualified in kata and we are in talks to have her registered in kumite,” says Stephany Petit, Luana's mother.

The trip to the Old Continent will first go to Madrid, where they will train for a week and then travel to Dundee, the venue of the competition. “I don't have financial support. It's $4,600 to be able to travel, that's why I'm making the call for help to go to the World Championship,” says Stephany.

Luana hopes to go to the World Championship to show all her talent at an international level. She has the potential to succeed and hopes for financial support to be able to travel to Scotland and return with a medal for the country.

--