The 2024 Karate 1 Premier League in Cairo was officially kicked off on Thursday with a numerous press conference, signalling the commencement of a thrilling weekend of Karate action, and inaugurating the countdown to the highly anticipated 2025 World Individual Senior Championships to be held in November 2025.

The event was attended by the President of the World Karate Federation (WKF) Antonio Espinós, the President of the Karate Federation of Egypt and WKF Executive Committee member Mohamed Eldahrawy, and the Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Ashraf Sobhy.

A massive celebration of the strength of Egyptian Karate, the opening press conference set the tone for the outstanding Karate 1-Premier League event of this weekend. It also served as the platform for the official presentation of the 2025 World Individual Senior Championships, scheduled to be held in Cairo in November 2025.

During his intervention, President Eldahrawy extended his gratitude to the officials in Egypt, including the Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, and the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, for their unwavering support towards the development of karate in the country as well as for their contribution to the celebration of the two anticipated events in Cairo.

“We are ready to host the most important Karate event here in Cairo in 2025 and we will do our best to make this event truly memorable,” Mr Eldahrawy said.

President of the Karate Federation of Egypt and WKF Executive Committee member Mohamed Eldahrawy, the Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Ashraf Sobhy and WKF President Antonio Espinós during the press conference.

 Meanwhile, Minister Sobhy expressed his joy at being part of the karate community, emphasizing that karate holds a special place in his heart. He highlighted Karate’s long-awaited – and deserved – Olympic dream coming true at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where Egypt secured two medals, marking a significant milestone for the sport and Egyptian sporting community.

“Karate is part of my life, and I am happy to be here with my Karate family,” Minister Sobhy said.

WKF President Antonio Espinós said:

“In life, there are no secrets to success, just hard work, dedication, and efficiency, and I want to congratulate President Eldahrawy for accomplishing exactly this. The success of Karate in Egypt is only accountable to the efforts of individuals such as President Eldahrawy and Minister Sobhy. The world of Karate is really grateful to the officials and authorities in Egypt for making Karate one of the leading disciplines in the nation. This is why the WKF Congress was pleased to recognise these efforts by appointing Cairo as the host of the first World Championships of their kind in 2025. I cannot think of a better place to host this event than Cairo.”   

Following the implementation of the WKF’s new Strategic Plan, approved by the WKF Congress in 2021, Egypt were selected to organise the first World Senior Individual Championships. The city of Cairo will host two major events in 2025, the Karate 1-Premier League in the spring and the World Senior Championships in November.

Top Picture: From left to right: WKF President Antonio Espinós, the Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Ashraf Sobhy the President of the Karate Federation of Egypt and WKF Executive Committee member Mohamed Eldahrawy.

The Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Ashraf Sobhy addresses the audience.

The opening press conference of #Karate1Cairo served to present the 2025 World Senior Individual Championships to be held in Cairo.

A large number of Media representatives attended the event in Cairo.

The official logo of the 2025 World Championships was also unveiled at the event.

From left to right: WKF President Antonio Espinós, the Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, and the President of the Karate Federation of Egypt and WKF Executive Committee member Mohamed Eldahrawy.

WKF President Antonio Espinós celebrated the strength of Karate in Egypt.