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| PNG Karate representetive Nigel Bana (With black belt) and his fellow colleges : Picture PNG Karate-do Federation |
Following the news of Karate’s inclusion with four other sports
in the next Olympics, the Papua New Guinea Karate-do Federation is looking
forward to sending its first Olympians to the Tokyo Games in 2020.
President of PNGKF, Carl Mari said he was extremely elated about
the news of Karate being approved by the IOC for Tokyo 2020. “This moment of
history has been a longtime coming. Our current and future Karatekas (athletes)
both in PNG and around the world can now aim for this, the Olympics, the
pinnacle of sports!” he said.
Karate’s successful bid for the Olympics comes following a
previous attempt by the World Karate Federation (WKF) to have it included in
the 2012 Games in London and the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro failed.
It also lost the bid in the initial submissions for Tokyo 2020
to wrestling. However, with the introduction of the Agenda 2020 by the IOC,
Karate and the other four successful sports bade again with 21 other sports for
2020 with positive news coming out for them on Wednesday 3 August this year.
“WKF and the global Karate family hopes to make a successful
2020 showing and also in 2024,” Mari said.
He said the road has been long and hard but will be more so for
those aiming for qualification for Tokyo 2020.
While each country will have their own target to meet for this,
for PNGKF, it has already started with the current PNG squad in preparation for
the Oceania Karate Championships in Noumea, New Caledonia from September 15 to
16 this year.
Their preparation and possible qualification for the Olympics
starts with the Oceania championships this year and will lead on to other
events leading up to 2020.
“It’s a long and challenging road ahead but not an impossible
one and we are looking forward to it, and I am sure our athletes are as well,”
Mari said.
He thanked WKF executives led by President, Dr. Antonio Espinos,
Japan Karate-Do Federation (JKF) led by Chairman, Mr. Takashi Sasagawa, Oceania
Karate Federation led lately by Mrs. Makarita Lenoa and currently by Mr.
Michael Kassis and other people who have made this dream a reality.
Mari also extended PNGKF’s gratitude to the President of the
Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC), Dr. Robin Mitchell, President of the
PNG Olympic Committee (PNGOC), Sir John Dawanincura and PNGOC Secretary
General, Mrs. Auvita Rapilla for their support.
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