DUBAI: The inaugural edition of the Dubai Open Karate Championship was a great success going by the sheer standard of competition and attendance.

Organised by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and the UAE Karate Federation in cooperation with the Mentor Sports Academy, the competition witnessed participation from more than 280 players representing 13 teams, including three government clubs and nine private sports academies from across the UAE.

Competitions in all categories of Kata and Kumite for various age groups were held at the indoor hall of Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club.

The organisation of the Dubai Open Karate Championship is part of the Dubai Sports Council’s efforts to discover and develop sporting talent in line with the Dubai Government’s policy of supporting talent in various fields.

The winners were crowned by His Excellency Major General Eng. Nasser Abdul Razzaq Al Razooqi, President of the UAE and Asian Karate Federations and Vice President of the International Karate Federation, in the presence of Ahmed Salem Al Mahri, Director of the Sports Talent Department at the Dubai Sports Council.

Continued support from federation

His Excellency Major General Eng. Nasser Abdul Razzaq Al Razooqi expressed his pride in the success of the tournament, the level of organisation and the participation in all age categories. He further emphasized on the importance of continuing such events, which contribute to spreading karate and strengthening its status, especially as it is one of the oldest self-defence sports practiced in Dubai and throughout the UAE.

His Excellency affirmed that the UAE Karate Federation will continue to support such distinguished tournaments, given their important role in nurturing and honing emerging talents. He directed that all forms of technical and logistical support be provided to develop the event during future editions.

Ahmed Salem Al Mahri, Director of the Sports Talent Department at the Dubai Sports Council, emphasized the importance of these tournaments in strengthening development programmes for talent in all sports. He noted that the participation of more than 280 male and female players in the first edition of the Karate Championship reflects the event’s success.

While mentioning the future expansion of the event, Al Mahri also praised the outstanding technical level witnessed in the tournament. He emphasized that the competition was an ideal platform for discovering promising talent who will form a fundamental pillar for future national teams.

Talent at the heart

Moataz Al Salam, Tournament Director and Talent Care Programme Coordinator at the UAE Karate Federation, explained that organising the event presented special challenges in dealing with the younger age groups.

He emphasized that a select group of distinguished and outstanding local and expatriate players were selected for the junior, cadet and youth categories. Prominent among these who caught the eye were Hamza Abdul Salam, Rashid Al Hajjaj, Faisal Al Khalidi, Saif Al Qaidi and Khalifa Al Kindi.

Integration and inclusion

The tournament also witnessed the participation of people of determination, reflecting the organising committee’s commitment to integrating all segments of society into sporting events while promoting the values of inclusion and equality in sports.