Sharjah all set for West Asian karate

The Jordanian squad before a training session on Sunday.

 Top karatekas from the region arrived in Sharjah for the West Asian karate Championship at the Sharjah Ladies Club (SLC) to be held on Monday and Tuesday.
The tournament kicks off today at 10am, and the official opening ceremony will be held the same day, at 5pm.
The contingents for the second chapter of the men's division and the fourth chapter of the women's events touched down on Friday night, officials said.
The Sharjah Ladies Club (SLC) of the Women Sports Department in collaboration with the UAE Taekwondo and Karate Federation, and the Sharjah Sports Council, are jointly promoting the event.
Held under the supervision of the West Asian Karate Federation (WAKF) and the UAE Taekwondo and Karate Federation, the two-day sporting event will take place at SLC's state-of-the-art gymnasium.
All preparations are presently in place following the arrival of the 115 karatekas from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon. Hosts UAE are fielding a strong squad for the event.
The contingents were given a warm reception on arrival by the organising committee led by Nada Askar Al Naqbi, director of the WAKF Championship, Chairperson of the Women's Committee in the Arab Karate Union, and director, Women Sports Department, SLC; Mohammed Abbas, director, UAE Taekwondo and Karate Federation; and Ibrahim Al Nuaimi, coordinator general of the event.
Nada said: "We are delighted to play the role of the hosts for this year's edition of the significant regional tournament. We sincerely hope the 2015 Sharjah WAKF Championship will achieve its desired goals and success in translating the vision of Shaikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah; and Chairperson of the Sharjah Ladies Club.
The Sharjah Ladies Club organised a two-day training course on refereeing and coaching starting on Saturday, which is part of the WAKF agenda before each championship.
On Day 1, a range of lectures as well as theoretical and practical tests were conducted for the referees and coaches, dealing with diverse subjects such as safety measures while practising karate and the dangers of athletes who depend on performance-enhancing steroids.
Training and practice sessions ended on a high note on Sunday, and the participants will be awarded certificates accredited by the WAKF. The organising committee will engage in comprehensive technical deliberations and follow-ups regarding team divisions and drawing of lots.
The West Asian Karate Championship was launched in 2012 after a reconstruction of the WAKF's board of directors, upon an initiative by Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Al Qannas. The first West Asian Karate Championship was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, while Dubai hosted the 2014 chapter.
Held annually, the tournament enjoys great interest among the Western Asian countries, offering referee and coaching training courses, certified and accredited by the WAKF.
moni@khaleejtimes.com