Muscat: The Qudrah Karate Club was crowned champion in the first open Friendship Karate Championship, organised by the Pioneers Karate Academy (PKA) on Friday, at the sub-arena of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bosher.
Champ Academy claimed the second place, while Kuwait Force Academy and Pioneers Karate Academy secured the third place jointly.
Twenty-two clubs from various Gulf, Arab, and foreign countries were participated in the first edition, with a total of 250 male and female participants across different age categories, starting from 5 years old and above. The tournament included both kata (demonstration) and kumite (sparring) categories, with weight divisions determined by the organising committee according to the international karate federation system. The kata categories were also subdivided.
It is worth mentioning that, children with Down syndrome participated in this championship for the first time in the Sultanate of Oman. The participants were Zaid bin Ahmed al Jabri, Abdullah bin Masood al Hanai, Abdullah bin Saif al Ghafri, Abdullah bin Ibrahim al Baharani, Qusai bin Salim al Rabei and Laith bin Hamad al Rashidi. The participants showcasing their skills in the kata discipline.
The competition was officiated by a group of Omani, international and regional referees, including representatives from other Arab and foreign countries. Ahmed bin Said al Zakwani, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pioneers Karate Academy and the Executive Director of the championship, expressed sincere thanks to the event's sponsor, retired Brigadier Abdulmalik bin Ghassan al Mazrouei, the head of the Omani Taekwondo Committee, as well as the supporting companies – Salim Airlines, Al Meera Oman, Oman Aviation Academy, Oman Palm Development Company, and Shakara for Sports Apparel.
Al Zakwani emphasised that the goal of hosting this championship is to elevate Omani karate by providing players the opportunity to compete with athletes from other countries, enhancing the capabilities of coaches and referees. Pioneers Karate Academy aims to foster fair competition, gain valuable experiences, and showcase national talents in the Sultanate of Oman through such tournaments, eagerly awaited by players for the chance to demonstrate their skills on a broader stage.
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