The Akshay Kumar Karate Tournament that was flagged off last year will return for a second edition from October 28 to 31, at Andheri Sports Complex this year.
Kumar is excited about this year’s tournament and has planned a lot of activities around the four-day championship. “I will be there of course. I’m very much looking forward to the event. I hope you remember me giving out medals last year though. I made an extra effort to make it to the finals ceremony and even brought along Lara Dutta for the medal-giving ceremony. I wish the participants all the best. Focus well and train hard,” says Kumar.
While last year’s turnout saw around 2,400 students participating in the tournament – this year’s contenders have already crossed 3,000. Renshi Mehul Vora, Chief Technical Director of the tournament reveals.
“The tournament is free of cost for participation. We will select eight individual winners from the tournament and train them to represent India at the International Karate Championship in Japan. We did the same with last year’s winners,” says Vora. Last year’s winners won one silver and three bronze medals at the championship that was held in Japan in July.
“Akshay takes a lot of pains to push young talent in martial arts. In fact, his son Aarav also trains under me. Last year, the tournament was well received. This year we are expecting boxers, Olympians and Bollywood celebrities to be a part of it,” Vora says. The tournament is Vora’s brainchild and Kumar quickly agreed to take over the idea and kick-start a martial arts revolution.
“Akshay takes a lot of pains to push young talent in martial arts. In fact, his son Aarav also trains under me. Last year, the tournament was well received. This year we are expecting boxers, Olympians and Bollywood celebrities to be a part of it,” Vora says. The tournament is Vora’s brainchild and Kumar quickly agreed to take over the idea and kick-start a martial arts revolution.
He adds, “When Aarav started training with me, the idea of an Akshay Kumar Invitational Open National Karate Championship was born there and then. The students who will be coming for this championship won't have to worry about the cost implications since Akshay will bear it all.”