The President of the World Karate Federation (WKF) Antonio Espinós, led a delegation of karate officials to meet with Tunisia’s Minister of Youth and Sports Sadok Mourali at the Ministry’s headquarters in Tunis. The meeting took place in conjunction with the ongoing UFAK Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships in Tunis and focused on evaluating the progress of karate in Tunisia and across Africa.

Joining Mr. Espinós were Souleymane Gaye, President of the African Karate Federation (UFAK), and Bechir Cherif, WKF Vice President and UFAK Vice President. The high-level delegation discussed the remarkable development of karate in Tunisia and the continued support of the sport by the Tunisian government.

The meeting centred on the evaluation of karate’s growth in Africa, especially in Tunisia, where the sport has seen rapid expansion. The discussions also addressed the significance of Tunisia’s role in promoting the sport through hosting major events like the UFAK Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships. Both parties recognized the importance of these competitions in nurturing the next generation of athletes in the region.

WKF President Antonio Espinós said after the meeting

“We are grateful to Minister Sadok Mourali and his team for their warm welcome and continuous support of karate in Tunisia,”

“Karate is one of the fastest-growing sports in Africa, and Tunisia has been instrumental in driving its progress. The dedication of the Ministry of Youth and Sports ensures that we continue to witness the remarkable rise of the sport in the region.”

The delegation acknowledged the importance of championships such as the UFAK Cadet, Junior & U21 championships in fostering young athletes’ careers and reinforcing karate’s global presence, particularly in Africa.

Top picture: from left to right: UFAK president Souleymane Gaye, WKF president Antonio Espinós,  Tunisia’s Minister of Youth and Sports Sadok Mourali, and UFAK vice president Bechir Cherif.

Foto02: WKF President Antonio Espinós and Tunisia’s Minister of Youth and Sports Sadok Mourali in Tunis.