Kickboxers from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 20 states are being expected in Ilorin from July 28 to July 31 for the inaugural Kwara State Zonal and Invitational Kickboxing Championship.
The coordinator of the championship, Sidiq Bolaji, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ilorin that the championship would be held alongside a seminar for referees.
He said the seminar was aimed at discussing the new rules and amendments to the rules of officiating the sport.
“The championship, which is being sponsored by Ibrahim Atanda, will be held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Kwara State Sports Council, beginning from 8 a.m. daily.
“Events will be held in all the 15 weight categories in the sport, in both the low kick competition and full contact.
“Each of the participating states will be expected to field athletes in all categories, in both male and female classes, with 30 gold, 30 silver and 60 bronze medals up for grabs at the championship,” Bolaji said.
Kickboxers from hosts Kwara will be joined by those from Benue, Niger, Plateau, the FCT and Nasarawa State in the zonal competition.
Participants are also expected from other states such as Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Abia, Bayelsa, Rivers, Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, Enugu, Osun, Ekiti and Anambra.
The competition’s sponsor is the proprietor of Al-Raheem International Schools in Ilorin, and is the incoming chairman of Kickboxing Association in Kwara.