Sharjah set for West Asian Karate

A recent women's karate event in progress.

The fourth West Asian Karate Championships for men and women will take place at the Sharjah Ladies Club (SLC) on Monday and Tuesday.
The tournament is being organised by the Women Sports Department at SLC in collaboration with the UAE Taekwondo and Karate Federation and the Sharjah Sports Council.
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. Participating countries include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon.
Kicking off next Monday at 10am and concluding on Tuesday, September 15, the competition's opening ceremony will be held on Monday at 5pm. The WAKF matches will be preceded by a training session for referees and coaches, scheduled to take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Sharjah ladies Club on September 12 and 13.
Speaking at the announcement, Nada Askar Al Naqbi, director, WAKF Championship, chairperson of the Women's Committee at the Arab Karate Union, and director of SLC's Women Sports Department, said: "By hosting this important regional tournament we seek to emphasise the emirate as an ideal venue for various championships and sports tournaments, while promoting healthy competition for both male and female contestants between friendly countries."
Major Nasser Al Razooqi, president, UAE Taekwondo and Karate Federation and vice president of the World Karate Federation, lauded the SLC Women's Sports Department for the efforts to promote sports event. Ahmed Nasser Al Fardan, secretary general, Sharjah Sports Council said Sharjah's hosting of this championship suitably capitalises on the emirate's world-class sports facilities.
The West Asian Karate Championship kicked off in 2012 after the WAKF's board of directors was restructured upon an initiative by Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Al Qannas.
The first West Asian Karate Championship was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, while the emirate of Dubai hosted the 20145 chapter.
The tournament enjoys great interest from Western Asian countries especially, offering referee and coaching training courses.
sports@khaleejtimes.com