Karate tourney to hold at Lagos State University

The Nigeria Isshin-Ryu Karate Association has concluded plans to organise a karate championship at the Lagos State University Sports Centre in Ojo, Lagos from Saturday July 4 to 12.

General secretary of the organisation, Sunday Egah, said the competition, which is in two categories, will feature over 200 people from clubs in Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Lagos and Delta States challenging one another for honours.

Egah, who won a gold medal at the Kaduna National Sports Festival early this year, said,"there are two categories, the adults and children categories, and an open weight category. The children will be grouped according to their ages and the adults, their body weights."

He said that organising the third edition of the competition is the association's contribution towards the development of Karate.

"Karate is not new in Nigeria, there are thousands of individuals actively doing the sport. The major challenge facing karate is the lack of local competition ; we hope this competition will, in no small measure, contribute to its development," he said.

The black belt karate national champion added that winners at the championship will go home with medals and monetary rewards.

"The overall best club will be given an Isshin-Ryu trophy, a medal and some cash. Winners in each weight category will get gold, silver and bronze medals," He added that monetary prizes of ₦20,000, ₦15,000 and ₦10,000 will be given to the first, second and third winner respectively.