Platform Africa - Terry Smith sponsors junior kickboxing athletes in international competitions

Leading international fund manager and kickboxing enthusiast Terry Smith has announced that he is sponsoring a number of local junior kickboxing athletes from the Beau-Bassin/Rose Hill Kickboxing Club to allow them to compete in international competitions.

Terry Smith, CEO of leading fund management firm Fundsmith, is supporting a number of members of the Beau-Bassin/Rose Hill Kickboxing Club. One of the junior athletes he is sponsoring from the club, Sibela Leelah, aged 18, recently won a silver medal at the World Association of Kickboxing Organisation (WAKO) Africa Continental Championships held in South Africa from 26 to 28 August.

Terry is also supporting two further junior athletes, Megane Prosper, aged 18, and Clive Yoansen Carmagnole, aged 17, as well as their coach Karl Prosper, as they prepare to compete in the upcoming WAKO World Juniors Championship to be held in Jesolo, Italy, from 30 September to 9 October.

Terry first started sponsoring the club in 2019, and in 2020 he bought new premises for the exclusive use of the club, which opened in June that year. He also purchased and donated world class equipment for the club, including a training ring, kick bags and other materials, all of which he shipped to Mauritius from the UK.

Commenting on his support for the Beau-Bassin/Rose Hill Kickboxing Club and the junior athletes, Terry Smith said:

“Having grown up in the East End of London, sport has helped me a lot in my life, and I have always enjoyed the opportunities to train, first in boxing and then in kickboxing. I first heard about Sibela through a press article seen by friends a few years ago, which led me to meet up with Karl Prosper and the team, who impressed me with their commitment and dedication to the training of young people in the local community. I am extremely proud of Sibela for her achievement in winning her first medal after many years of hard work and I wish Megane and Clive all the very best of luck as they head to Italy to compete in the WAKO World Juniors Championship.”

Speaking about Terry Smith’s sponsorship, Sibela Leelah said:

“I am very glad to have met Terry Smith. It is thanks to him that I am here today. I was very happy that he offered me a sponsorship which allowed me to go to South Africa to win a silver medal. I am delighted to have met him.”

Adding his perspective, the coach of the Beau-Bassin/Rose Hill Kickboxing Club, Karl Prosper, said:

“Mr Smith has helped us a lot by offering us a well-equipped gym in a good environment for our athletes to improve a lot more.”

“We are extremely grateful to him for providing the sponsorship which will allow Megane, Clive and myself to travel to Italy for this important competition.”

“Mr Smith has always been there for us and he has never refused to help us whenever we needed his help. We thank him for his support and for all the things that he has done for the club,” concluded Karl Prosper.