Said Salman Al-Mousawi and Abdullah Shaaban

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 21: Kuwait’s national karate stars, Said Salman Al-Mousawi and Abdullah Shaaban, have made history as the first Kuwaitis to qualify for the individual Karate World Championship through the international ranking system.

The tournament will take place in Cairo from November 27–30. Al-Mousawi secured his spot by achieving fifth place in the individual Kata international ranking, while Shaaban qualified in the individual Kumite 60 kg category after finishing fourth in the international standings. Speaking about the achievement, Al-Mousawi expressed his pride:

“This is a historic moment, as the World Championship is now held separately for individual events. Previously, the individual and team competitions were combined, but now they alternate annually.”

He added, “Only 32 athletes qualify for each category in the Karate World Cup, either through continental medals or by accumulating points in international competitions under the World Karate Federation. Our qualification through the ranking system highlights the level of dedication and consistency required.”

Al-Mousawi emphasized that this milestone demonstrates the rapid development of karate in Kuwait and thanked everyone who supported him in reaching the World Cup, allowing him and Shaaban to proudly represent Kuwait on the global stage

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff