THE World Karate Federation last Monday formally recognized the Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation, Inc. as the national sports association for the discipline in the Philippines during the WKF Congress in Dubai.
By a unanimous vote of the 198 members present, KPSFI was among the 10 federations that was formally recognized by the world karate body during its assembly at the Movenpick Grand Bustan Hotel.
“We are happy to announce that Karate Pilpinas Sports Federation Inc. is finally recognized as a permanent member of the World Karate Federation during the WKF Congress. I would like to thank the Karate Pilipinas community for their trust, patience and support with the federation,” KPSFI president Ricky Lim said in a statement from Dubai.
“We would also like to thank the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and Atletang Pilipino for their support. The federation will continue to do our best to propagate and upgrade karate in the Philippines,” he added.
Commissioner Ramon Fernandez of the PSC, who helped the KPSFI gain membership and recognition with the WKF, witnessed the event.
Lim said the local karate body received provisional recognition during the WKF Congress in Madrid, Spain in 2018 as the successor of the Philippine Karate Federation.
The PKF accreditation with the world body was withdrawn after it got into trouble involving the allowances given by the PSC to the national athletes while they were training in Europe for the 2017 Malaysia Southeast Asian Games.
KPSFI organized the 2019 SEA Games karate competitions at the World Trade Center in Pasay City where national karatekas won two golds from Jaimie Lim and Junna Tsukii apiece plus one silver and nine bronze medals.
