Officials press for karate's Olympic debut

The UAE Taekwondo and Karate Association (UAE TKA) has been requested to submit a report on the status and profile of the sport in the UAE to further influence the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

This development has come about after Essa Saif, general secretary of the UAE TKA met Ibrahim Abdul Malik, the general secretary of the UAE NOC in Dubai last week.

Saif was part of the delegation which met the UAE NOC in an attempt to carry on a worldwide canvassing exercise designed to make karate an Olympic sport.

On behalf of the UAE NOC, Abdul Malik impressed upon the UAE TKA officials that it is important to have a report pertaining to the various karate activities being held in the UAE.

"He advised us to compile a report of the activities we are presently carrying out to boost the standing of the sport in the UAE," Saif told Gulf News.

The World Karate Federation (WKF) has asked its member nations to enhance activities to press for the inclusion of the sport at the Olympic Games via their respective NOCs.

"We have been so active in the recent past and we already have a full calendar of events planned for the future," Saif said.

"In due course of time, we will compile a report and hand it over to the UAE NOC," Saif stated. "Ibrahim Abdul Malik is scheduled to be at the Athens Olympics in August. We should be able to have the report before that," he added.

After a recent drive to attract young children from the Al Ain area, the officials from the UAE TKA last week moved into Abu Dhabi.

"We held a competition exclusively for women and it was a big hit," Saif disclosed. "We have chalked out plans for the future to cover other areas as well."