RI chosen to host world karate games

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia was chosen to host the seventh world Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIP) championship in April 2000, an official said on Friday.

E. Tando, chairman of the Indonesian Karate-Do (Inkado) said that the choice of Indonesia to host the SKIP championship followed the SKIP congress in Milan, Italy in 1997.

"We struggled to become the host and the members of SKIP agreed with acclamation that Indonesia host the 7th SKIP championship next year," Tando said. He headed the Indonesian SKIP delegation at the congress.

In the sixth world SKIP championship in 1997, Indonesia collected two silver medals from the women's team kumite and men's individual kata. Indonesia has taken part in the world SKIP championship since the first championship was held in Tokyo in 1983.

Tando said that 102 countries had registered to compete in the 7th world SKIP championship and from that amount, 70 countries confirmed their participation. (lnt)