Hilal al Abdali
MUSCAT, MAY 7
The competitions of Shotokan Karate Centre National Championship concluded on Friday at the Sports Hall of Ahli Sidab Club in Muscat Governorate under the auspices of the Oman Karate Committee (OKC) led by Shaikh Salim bin Hamed al Mahrooqi, OKC Chairman, member of Majlis Ash'shura as representative of the Wilayat of Adam.
Shito-Ryu Oman Karate Do Kai emerged champions, Shotokan Karate Centre came second, Muscat International Karate Do Academy claimed third place and AIKI School of Martial Arts finished fourth. Chief guest Shaikh Salim handed cups to the first four centres.
Also present during the concluding ceremony were, Eng Hilal bin Sabeel al Balushi, Vice-President of Ahli Sidab Club and Suleiman al Jabri, Headmaster of Imam Jabir bin Zaid School, Mohammed Othman al Haj Yousuf, President of Sudanese Community Social Club, Hassan bin Hashim bin Khalifah al Balushi, representative of Enhance Group Company and Jamaal bin Habib al Balushi, member of the board of directors and head of the sport committee of Ahli Sidab.
About 200 male and female players from different age groups and weights who represented 16 clubs, academies and private centres took part in the championship. These are: Shotokan Karate Centre, Muscat International Karate Do Academy, Buraimi Karate Academy, Shito-Ryu Oman Karate Do Kai, Eagles Samail Karate Club, Karate Champions Club, Professional Karate Club, AlKI School of Martial Arts Club, Beats Club, Boshi Do Kai Karate Ghala, Freedom Karate Team, International Academy for Individual Games, International Shotokan Karate Federation Oman, JKA Oman Academy, Karate Stars Club and Emperor Academy.
The championship competitions were conducted by a group of international, continental and national referees for kata and kumite.
The competitions were divided in both kata and kumite contests to the following age groups: 6 years - 7 years - 8 years - 9 years - 10 years - 11 years - 12 years - 13 years - 14, 15, 16 years - 18 years and above according to specific weights decided by the organising committee.
Sensei Navas Mokeri, Chairman of Shotokan Karate Centre, Sensei Yusuf al Siyabi, head of coaches, and Sensei Hilal al Abdali, member of the centre, honoured the members of the organising committees and the medical team represented by Najeeb Masoud and Zahra al Harrasi who were given memorial medals and appreciation certificates .
At the closing ceremony, the Oman National Anthem was played and a group of male and female players from the participating club's, academies and private centres performed some reviews of kata performance.
After that, the OKC chief honoured the referees team who supervised the competitions of the championship by handing them memorial medals and appreciation certificates. Then, Khalid bin Abdullah al Battashi from the Ministry of Health was honoured. The chief guest then presented medals to top-three placed karatekas in some age groups.
Memorial shields were presented to sponsors including Enhance Group of Companies, Al Wafi Water Company and Al Reef Rest House. Ahli Sidab Sports Club, Imam Jabir bin Zaid School and the Sudanese Community Social Club were also honoured.
Sensei Navas Mokeri and some members of the centre presented a memorial shield to OKC Chairman Shaikh Salim al Mahrooqi.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
