The 2025 World Karate Championships for Seniors and People with Disabilities officially opened this evening at the main hall of the indoor sports complex at Cairo International Stadium.
The event is a historic milestone, marking the return of the prestigious tournament to the African continent after a 37-year absence.
The championships boast significant international participation, featuring 1,300 athletes from 88 countries competing in Cairo.
The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi, along with a distinguished group of international and national sports leaders.
Notable attendees included President of the World Karate Federation (WKF) Antonio Espinós, WKF Vice President Nasser Al-Zarouqi and President of the Egyptian Karate Federation (EKF) Mohamed El-Dahrawy.
During the ceremony, Minister Sobhi expressed his profound happiness at Egypt hosting the global championship, emphasizing that the success in securing this major event was due to the strong support provided by the political leadership for organizing international and continental events.
He also praised the exceptional efforts of the EKF board, led by El-Dahrawy, for winning the bid against competitive nations.
Antonio Espinós commended both the Egyptian state and the EKF for their exemplary preparation at every level, from delegation welcoming to logistical requirements.
He stated that this level of readiness strongly reflects the capabilities of the Egyptian state and its advanced sports infrastructure.
Similarly, El-Dahrawy confirmed that hosting the 2025 World Championships is the culmination of years of dedicated work by the Federation.
He highlighted that the spectacular organization of the event demonstrates Egypt’s ability to host the world’s largest sporting gatherings and confirmed that the EKF has implemented an integrated plan to ensure the championship is executed in a manner that upholds Egypt’s significant continental and international standing.
