THE ultimate goal of competing at the Olympic Games is well within reach of Port Macquarie martial arts star Sascha Arnberger.
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Arnberger picked up a couple of wins over the ditch in Auckland that saw her emerge with a strong quarter-final result at the Oceania titles.
By the completion of the event, the 13-year-old claimed a top eight finish in her division in the Oceania region that covers Australia and New Zealand.
It was her first appearance at a top level World Karate Federation tournament where she overcame the added pressure of a large crowd and stadium atmosphere.
“I had three fights, won two of them and the one I lost was a close one,” she said.
“I learnt that they don’t go easy on you and it’s all really fast.”
In Auckland, Arnberger made an impression on the competition despite being the youngest competitor.
“I definitely impressed myself at the level I was at,” she said.
I learnt that they don’t go easy on you and it’s all really fast.
- Sascha Arnberger
“It was after the first fight I was in where I was really shocked that I got past it, but I need to work on my kicks so I can get a really good one in next time.”
On another day, the teenager might have progressed beyond the quarter-finals after she suffered a narrow one-point defeat.
She admitted she didn’t feel out of her depth on the international stage.
“It was pretty hard competition, but it was about what I expected,” she said.
The Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 appear to be too soon, but the 13-year-old remained focused on aiming for an appearance in Paris in 2024.
“I did well for the first time and got heaps of experience from it,” she said.
“The 2024 Olympic Games are still a good chance if I keep trying and training hard I can possibly get there.”
Arnberger also trained with some of the best karate stars in the country leading up to her quarter-final appearance.
Father, Derek, believes that was arguably the best experience throughout the trip.
“The best experience for her is that she got to watch the senior team and the training they do,” he said.
“Sascha now knows what she needs to do.
The 2024 Olympic Games are still a good chance if I keep trying and training hard I can possibly get there.
- Sascha Arnberger
“They all train together so the training sessions in the week leading up (to the titles) were probably the most beneficial for what she was doing.”
After a strong performance in New Zealand, Arnberger will now be forced to test herself against higher-quality opponents in coming years.
“She’ll be in the higher divisions because she’ll be more experienced,” he said.
“When they get to the junior Olympics in a few years time she’ll be at that level where she’ll be really good in the under-15s and that’s what we’re aiming for.”
The talented teenager will now turn her attention to the Australian titles in August.
