Over 180 female Karate practitioners will compete at the 6th Zainab Saleh International Female Open Karate Championship this weekend.
The tournament will take place inside the Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos from November 21-24.
Powered by the passionate Karate practitioner Hajiya Zainab Saleh, Vice Chair of the Lagos State Karate Association, the Championship has been growing every year for the past five tournaments into the leading Karate event for women in West Africa where participants come in from Ghana, Benin and Togo annually.
Speaking about this year’s Championship, Hajiya Saleh said: “We are excited that the number of women that have registered to participate has increased by almost 25 per cent from the number in 2018. This is encouraging for us that women are finding the Zainab Saleh Female Open Karate Championship as a venue for them to express themselves and practice their passion.
“This Championship is also an avenue to encourage women to learn self-defence, as social ills such as domestic violence and rape against women have become prevalent in our society,” she said.
Some of the leading female Karate stars expected to return to the competition this year include Aderonke Ogunsanwo, Ujunwa Nwankwo and last year’s shining light Elizabeth Oghenevwogaga.
The Championship will commence on November 21 with a Referees Course taken by the Chairman and Secretary of the African Karate Federation (UFAK), Mr. Zitouni Metyout and Mr. Olusegun Akinola respectively, with team arrivals and registration at the Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
Competition starts on Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23 with team departures scheduled for Sunday, November 24.
