KIGALI, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- African Senior and Junior Karate Championships Friday kicked off in the Rwandan capital Kigali with elimination rounds.
There are 23 countries in the competition with about 465 participants, according to Rwanda Karate Federation.
The annual games to run through Sept. 2 are taking place in Gasabo district, on the outskirts of Kigali.
The games were preceded by training of referees from August 28.
Theogene Uwayo, president of the Rwanda Karate Federation said he expected the tournament to help Rwanda push the game ahead while the national coach Noel Nkuranyabahizi said Rwandan players were well prepared for the games.
The games are in 17th edition for seniors and ninth edition for juniors.
The World Karate Federation president, Antonio Espinós Ortueta, and the African Karate Federations Union president, Mohamed Tahar Mesbahi are in the east African country to watch the games.
