WKF President Antonio Espinós travelled to Mali where he met President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and the main sports authorities in the country to discuss the development of Karate in the region, in the light of the UFAK West Region Karate Championships. 

WKF President Antonio Espinós travelled to Mali where he met President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and the main sports authorities in the country to discuss the development of Karate in the region, in the light of the UFAK West Region Karate Championships.

Karate continues reaching greater levels of popularity in African countries. The progress of the sport in the continent was further attested this past week as WKF President Antonio Espinós travelled to Mali.

Mr Espinós sat with Mali Minister of Youth and Sport Arouna Modibo Toure to analyse the strategic partnership between WKF and Mali administration. Plans to continue increasing the impact of the sport in the country were also laid out.

The great outcome of Karate events in Mali and future projects for the sport in the region, especially the prospective 2022 African Championships in Bamako, were the main points of the agenda of the meeting that Mr Espinós had on Saturday with Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. The two leaders gathered to take further steps in the cooperation between Karate’s organisation and the Mali authorities to reinforce the presence of the sport in the country.

During the meeting, WKF President handed Mr Boubacar Keïta the commemorative 5th-dan black belt in recognition of his efforts to promote the sport in the nation. Mr Espinós was accompanied at the gatherings by WKF 3rd Vice President and UFAF 1st Vice President Bechir Cherif, WKF Assistant General Treasurer and UFAK 2nd Vice President Souleymane Gaye, UFAK Northern Region President Yassine Arab of Algeria, Mali Karate Federation President Adama Mariko and Mali Karate Federation General Secretary Ba Madani.

Additionally, Mr Espinós took time to attend the meeting of national federations of African Western region. The representatives of national federations from countries on the Western region of the continent gathered to analyse the situation of the sport in the area with WKF President Antonio Espinós as well as WKF 3rd Vice President and UFAF 1st Vice President Bechir Cherif and WKF Assistant General Treasurer and UFAK 2nd Vice President Souleymane Gaye participating in the discussions.   

“Mali continues to be one of the greatest supporters of Karate in Africa. We are pleased to learn that the popularity of Karate here continues to grow, giving their athletes more and more opportunities to compete at the highest level and to develop their abilities. We are continuing to invest in African Karate, and we are delighted to know that Karate still is one of the most popular disciplines here,” said WKF President Antonio Espinós.

(Main picture: Karate delegation poses with Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta @PresidenceMali)

WKF President Antonio Espinós (right) with Mali Minister of Youth and Sport Arouna Modibo Toure.

Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta shows his Karate abilities during the meeting.

WKF President hands Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta a commemorative black belt in recognition to his efforts in promotion Karate.

Mr Espinós (centre) participates in the meeting of national federations of African Western region