Christchurch’s Pioneer Stadium recently hosted the 2023 Oceania Karate Championships.
Attended by more than 160 competitors from nine of the 13 Oceania States, the event featured the under 21 and senior open categories.
To participate in the World Combat Games in Saudi Arabia later this year, the under 21s first need to qualify.
“People obtaining gold here today, they automatically walk into that competition.” Michael Kassis, president of the Oceania Karate Federation, said.
He is, however, concerned that some of the world’s governing sports bodies don’t take it seriously.
“In the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, we managed to get karate into the Games, but unfortunately in the next Olympics in Paris, we're not involved - because they’ve replaced us with rap dancing.”
What?
“Exactly... rap dancing!" Kassis exclaimed.
- By John Spurdle
Public Interest Journalism Fund
