KARATE STARS HEAD TO ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Asian Karate Championships that will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from July 10-18. With recent Islamic Solidarity Games gold medalist Bashar Al Najjar among the ranks, head coach Ibrahim Abu Al Edam believes the team can return with medals.

“We had intensive training over the past weeks,” he said. “We focus on raising the fitness levels for the athletes who have all worked extremely hard building up to this.”

For the first time, the seniors’ event will be held alongside the various age categories making this one of the biggest celebrations of the sport this year.

“It will be a great opportunity for our youngsters travelling there to be able to witness a full senior event,” he added. “Kids will get to meet some of the best Karate fighters in the world from the likes of Japan and Iran, but I am confident we will also reach the podium.”

The Asian Championships represent an early milestone for preparing the karate team towards the 2020 Olympic Games, so the fighters know the pressure is already on to produce results. The delegation will include Mu’een Fa’ouri as CDM, Manar Sha’eth and Ra’ed Mas’oud as Administrative, Physiotherapist Lana Al Khader, Head Coach Ibrahim Abu Al Edam, Men’s Coach Mohammad Fetyan and U21 Coach Na’el Oiamer.

Squad Seniors Men: Ra’ed Reyad (-75kg), Nicola Matta (+85kg), Bashar Al Najjar (-67kg), Abdullah Kreik (-60kg), Mahmoud Sajjan (-84kg). Seniors Women: Hala Turaish (-61kg) and Ayat Fetian (-68kg). Juniors Male: Mohammad Al Musa (-55kg), Ali Lafi (-76kg), Ali Esa’el (+76kg), Ali Habashneh (-61kg), Yazan Al Weher (-68kg). Juniors Female: Nermeen Turaish (-48kg), Ala’ Waleed (53kg), Rama Hamdan (-58kg), Rama Bassam (-59kg), Diana Dada (+59kg). Cadet: Omar Shaqrah (-52kg), Nasser Fathi (-63kg), Zaki Abu Ka’oud (-70kg) and Saleh Al Sawalha (+70kg). U21 Men: Ahmad Shadeed (-84kg), Mohammad Sami (-60kg), Mazin Al Ju’aidi (-75kg), Omar Al Najjar (-55kg) and Nabeil Al Shweiki (-67kg). U21 Women: Majedah Al Bashayreh (-55kg)