WKF President Antonio Espinós honoured Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Karate National Federation of the country Aun Pornmoniroth at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh.

Mr Pornmoniroth who was re-elected to head the national karate organisation of the country in 2022 has been Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister since 2018 and Minister of Economy and Finance since 2013. He is also a member of the National Assembly of the country since 2018.

During the opening day of the Karate competition at the 2023 SEA Asian Games in Cambodia, Mr Pornmoniroth received the honorary 9^th dan in Karate from WKF President. Mr Espinós travelled to Phnom Penh to attend the Karate tournament of the multi-sport event and took the opportunity to honour Mr Pornmoniroth for his contribution to the development of Karate.

WKF President Antonio Espinós said:

“It is a privilege to celebrate Mr Pornmoniroth’s influence in the sport and in Cambodia’s society, and to honour his many accomplishments at the helm of the National Karate Federation of the country. The popularity of Karate in the region has reached unmatched levels over the years, and the values of our sport are now intrinsically connected to Cambodia’s society. This could only be achieved thanks to Mr Pornmoniroth’s efforts. The 9^th dan that he is receiving today is only a way to express the gratitude of the Karate community for his support.”

WKF President Antonio Espinós (left) and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Karate National Federation of the country Aun Pornmoniroth

 Mr Espinós and Mr Pornmoniroth at the Karate event of the 2023 SEA Asian Games