Sukokai National karate championship in Bhubaneswar

Leading martial art and fitness training centre, Utkal Karate School (UKS) is all set to host the 3rd Open Sukokai National Karate Championship at the school premises in Bhubaneswar from January 9 to 11. Around 300 karatekas from Madhya Pradesh, Chhatishgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa are expected to vie for honours in sub-junior, junior, cadet and senior categories. Competition will be held in 55 events. Earlier two editions of the championship were also hosted by Orissa in 2003 and 2006 at J N Indoor Stadium, Cuttack and here respectively. ``Sukokai is one among 50 styles of karate approved by World Karate-do Federation, 32 styles recognised by All India Karate-do Federation and 11 styles accepted by Orissa State Karate-do Association,`` explained Hari Prasad Pattanayak, head of Sukokai Karate-do Union India at a media conference here on Thursday. ``The position of the style in India has been strengthend further with the joining of Madhya Pradesh, the strongest state, last year,`` elaborated Pattanayak, who introduced sukokai in the country, seven years ago. Madhya Pradesh has already arrived with a 120-member squad. Host Orissa would be fielding an 80-member squad. ``Considering children`s increasing likingness for the style, an under-seven age category will be introduced in the ensuing Nationals,`` said Sukokai Karate-do Union Orissa vice-president Chitta Ranjan Swain.