By Abdellatif Sharaa

KUWAIT: Kuwait Karate clubs dominated top positions in the Fifth Arab Karate Championship as the host Yarmouk Club and Kuwait Club won five gold medals. Yarmouk came out first with four gold medals while Kuwait came second with one gold and two bronze. Shabab Al-Ahli (from UAE) took third place with one gold and one bronze medal.

The closing ceremony was attended by the acting Director of Public Authority for Sport (PAS) and tournament patron Hamid Al-Hazeem, Kuwait Olympic Committee Board Member Sheikh Mubarak Faisal Al-Nawaf, President of Arab Karate Federation Ibrahim Al-Qannas, President of Kuwait Karate Federation Mohammad Al-Jassim, Chairman of Kuwait Club Khalid Al-Ghanim, Yarmouk club Chairman Ahmad Al-Jarki, KOC board member Fatima Hayat and Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait.

The final day recorded very high level of competitions. Sayyed Mohammad Al-Mousawi (Yarmouk) won the gold medal of the Kata singles; Rakan Al-Badri (Saudi Nasr) took second while the third place was shared by Bayar Mustafa (Ittihad Al-Basra, Iraq) and Waleed Al-Enezi (Kuwait). In the women Kata singles, Zahraa Farhani (Yarmouk) won the gold; Zainab Wahidee (Shabab) grabbed second position while Yasmeen Al-Mutawaa (Fatat) and Hala bin Haidar shared third place.

In the teams' competition, Yarmouk continued its dominance - winning two gold medals out of four. Yarmouk took first; Saudi Nasr grabbed the second position while Ittihad Basra and Kuwait secured the third place. Yarmouk women team won the Kata Gold medal, Fatat took second and third went to Saudi Nasr ladies.

The combat men's event was extremely tough. Kuwait's five players won the gold medals following strong competition with UAE's Sharqa. Third place was shared by Shabab Buraiqa (Algeria) and Suadi Nasr. In the women combat, Shabab Al-Ahli (UAE) defeated Sharqa (UAE). The third place went to Buralki (Algeria) and Falat.