3RD ZAINAB SALEH KARATE OPEN: Stakeholders clamour for more championships

MINISTER of Sports and Youth Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung has called for concerted efforts to push karate forward in the Nigeria.

Dalung made the call at the final of the third edition of the Zainab Saleh International Female Open Karate Championship held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas indoor sports hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos last weekend.

While commending the sponsor, Hajiya Zainab Saleh for her sterling efforts in seeing that the sport of Karate is well developed among the female folks in the country, the minister who was represented by Director of Federations and Elite Athletes department in the ministry, Mrs Hauwa Kulu Akinyemi, equally promised the ministry’s support for Karate at all times.

This year’s edition of the championship saw karatekas competing for honours in the Senior and Junior Kumute in the following categories: Senior Female Individual Kumute (WKF) +18 in -50kg,-55kg,-61kg, 68kg +68 kg. In the Junior Female (WFK) Kamute of – 40kg, -53kg,-59kg and +59kg in Brown and Blackbelt, Green and Blue belt and White and Yellow belt.

At the final medal count Anambra State Karate Association came first with 3 gold, 4 Silver and 6 bronze medals, while Delta State finished second with 3 gold medals only. Lagos State Karate Association pulled 2 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals to come third in the competition.

The only participating foreign country, Benin Republic came forth with one gold and a silver alongside Nigerian Security and Defence Corps who also got the same number of medals. That left Edo State, Samchin Karate Academy and Oki Martial Arts all tied fifth on the log with one gold medal each.

The FCT came sixth with one silver, while Kishikan RYU Martial Arts alongside the Nigerian Police and Ogun State had a bronze medal each to place seventh in a championship that had 12 States of the federation, 13 karate Clubs and Benin Republic featuring in the week-long event.

While giving his remarks at the closing ceremony, the President, Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN), Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike, who doubles as the Pillar of Sports in Nigeria, called for total unity and focus among federation members towards the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo now that karate has become an Olympic sport.

The president also promise to popularize Karate as a sport and also to push for its inclusion in the school curriculum to enhance participation at secondary school level, as this will help with the learning of the rudiments faster.

Speaking further the Pillar of Sports in Nigeria said, “Obviously, We have a long way to go, the journey is long but the spirit is high as we hope and plan to participate in the 2020 Olympics when Karate will debut fully at the global games”.

While making references to Nigeria performances in 2011 and Republic of Congo in 2015 where Nigeria clinched a bronze medal as an eye opener that the federation will want to build on the feat, he rounded up by calling on private organisation, the media and Multinationals for collaboration and support to help in the development of Karate in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event the sponsor, Hajiya Zainab Saleh who is the technical director of Lagos State Karate Association, admonished ladies to take all they have learnt to heart.

The Chairman of Lagos Karate Association, Alfred Ohimain thanked all the participating states, officials, friends of the Karate Federation, while making special reference to George Ashiru, the President Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria for their time, advise and support. He promised the sport is set to grow bigger as the state association is not resting on its oars in its bid to make Karate more popular in Nigeria.