National karate camp from July 10

KARACHI: Pakistan Karate Federation (PKF) plans to hold a camp from July 10 to prepare national karatekas for three major international assignments.

“South Asian Karate Championship, World Championship and Asian Junior Championship are our targets this year,” PKF president Mohammad Jehangir told ‘The News’ on Sunday. “We have requested the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for the camp which we would like to hold from July 10.”

The South Asian Seniors and Juniors (both men and women) Championship will be conducted in Colombo from August 23 to 27. Austria will hold the World Karate Championship in October.

The Asian Junior Championship will be conducted in Indonesia in November.

Pakistan last time did not feature in the South Asian Karate Championship in India due to visa issues. India had issued visas to Pakistan’s women karatekas but ignored the men’s side which was the defending champion.

In the absence of Pakistan India won the title.

Jehangir said Pakistan could  reclaim the crown. “We have good players and I hope we will regain the South Asian Karate Championship title,” he said.

“India is improving fast and so is Nepal. Bangladesh is not that strong. Sri Lanka will also try to form a fighting team. I hope it will be a tough and competitive event,” Jehangir added.

He said that Pakistan’s contingent would be a bit large for the Sri Lankan tour.

“We want some of our coaches and referees to attend courses there. But it will depend on finances,” Jehangir said.

He said that two players in each weight would be kept in the camp. “We have already held the National Men’s Karate Championship and the best players of the event will be invited to the camp. We also plan to organise a National Women Karate Championship so that the cream could be provided with training opportunities,” the official said.

About the World Championship Jehangir said that effort would be made to send at least four players to Austria.

Jehangir said Dubai-based player Saadi Abbas would be their main hope. Saadi is US Open and two-time Commonwealth Championship champion.

“Saadi is an experienced player and he will certainly be sent for the World Championship,” he said.

To a query Jehangir said their doors were open for all those foreign-based Pakistani players who want to play for the country of their ancestors. “We will welcome all those foreign-based Pakistani players who want to represent their country of origin,” the official said.

In judo and taekwondo a few foreign-based players have been representing Pakistan in international circuit.