The 40th Japan-Brunei Friendship Year Rengokai Karate Brunei Darussalam (RKBD) Karate Open Championship 2024 commenced yesterday with an opening ceremony officiated by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad.
Held at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex, the three-day event has drawn participants from six local clubs and one club from Malaysia.
The local clubs are RKBD, International Karate Gojukai Association Brunei Darussalam, Shitokai Kuala Belait, Shitoryu Karate Association Brunei Darussalam, Shotokan Karate Brunei Darussalam, and Wadokai Karate Brunei Darussalam, alongside Brunei Shotokan Karate Association Sports School. Representing Malaysia is LCF Goshinryu Miri.
Athletes, categorised into six age groups, include competitors as young as six years old.
Following the ceremony, the minister met with representatives from the participating clubs
and referees.
The championship, sanctioned by the Brunei Darussalam Karate Federation (BRUKAF) and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, commemorates the 40th Japan-Brunei Friendship Year while promoting sportsmanship and the Japanese martial art of karate.
The first day of the competition featured Individual Kata and Kumite events in category ‘A’ (six to eight years old) and category ‘B’ (nine to 10 years old). The event will conclude tomorrow.
Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Maeda Toru and President of RKBD Pengiran Haji Md Hasimudin bin Pengiran Haji Md Yassin were present at the opening ceremony. – James Kon
