By Emmanuel Afonne

No fewer than 1,000 athletes have arrived in Abuja for the 2025 African Karate Championship scheduled to hold between July 21 and July 28.

Silas Agara, President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN), told newsmen in Abuja on Sunday that 31 countries, alongside host Nigeria, would slug it out in four categories of the sport.

Agara listed the categories to include the cadet, which would accommodate athletes between 14 and 15 years as well as the junior category which has athletes between the age of 16 and 17.

Other categories are senior and para karate which would have athletes above 18 years respectively.

“Today, we are happy to announce that we have most of the countries that have indicated to participate in the upcoming African Championship; they are on ground.

“We have officials from other countries that are here to provide technical assistance to the championship here on ground.

“Our part as a federation, we have been on ground for the past one week trying to ensure that all the logistics are in place and accommodation has been sorted for countries that are coming.

“As at Wednesday night, which was the closing date for the registration, we have 31 countries that have indicated interest to come, with over 1,000 athletes from all these countries that will be coming along, including officials.

“Logistics for these athletes and officials have not been too easy in terms of sorting out their accommodation, their transport from the hotel, immigration processes, that is sorting their visa on arrival, so these are some of the logistics.

“But I am happy that we are on course,” Agara said.

The KFN president also said that the General Assembly of the African championship would also take place in Abuja, within this period.

Dave Jegede, Technical Director of the Federation, said that Nigeria would be presenting 60 athletes for the championships and that the athletes are in high spirits ahead of the competition.

“Anticipatory, we have been preparing. We know that we are hosting and as such have lined up several championships before now to keep our athletes in tune.

“We have about four national and two regional championships which we have done. So, these athletes have been attending competitions regularly. They’ve been in camp before now, and they’re in high spirits.

“We have about 60 athletes that will participate in this championship and many of them are African champions. We have gold medalists, silver medalists, and bronze medalists in our team. We also have Commonwealth medalists in our team.

“So, all these put together, and with the preparation we have had, we’re sure we’ll make Nigeria proud,” Jegede said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh