WKF President Antonio Espinós welcomed the President of Peru Martin Vizcarra and the President of Chile Sebastián Piñera at the Karate competition of the Pan American Games being held in Lima (Peru). The two heads of state were among the many top officials and authorities who attended the thrilling Karate event in Lima. 

WKF President Antonio Espinós welcomed the President of Peru Martin Vizcarra and the President of Chile Sebastián Piñera at the Karate competition of the Pan American Games being held in Lima (Peru). The two heads of state were among the many top officials and authorities who attended the thrilling Karate event in Lima. 

Karate demonstrated its appeal and its popularity at the Pan American Games. The sensational action from the tatamis was followed by a full-crowd arena and a host of top officials on the stands. The President of Peru Martin Vizcarra attended the Karate event in Lima and witnessed local star Alexandra Grande taking the gold medal in front of a supportive home audience. Mr Vizcarra handed out the gold medal to Lima 2019 Ambassador Alexandra Grande at the awarding ceremony. 

The event was also attended by the President of Chile Sebastián Piñera. The chief of State of the southern American ry was present in Lima since Chile will be hosting the 2023 Pan American Games. With Chile's Minister of Sport Pauline Kantor also present, WKF President Antonio Espinós had the opportunity to discuss the progress of Karate in the region with the officials, as well as the encouraging prospects of the discipline in America. 

Additionally, the Polideportivo Villa El Salvador sports hall in Lima received the visit of the Lima 2019 Organising Committee President Carlos Neuhaus who oversaw the impressive sporting spirit of Karate at the multi-sport event. 

WKF President Antonio Espinós also took time to meet with many representatives of Karate from the Americas during the three-day event. Together with Pan American Karate Federation president and WKF 1st Vice President José García Maañón, Mr Espinós gathered with the Peruvian Karate Federation president Luis M. Basualdo Mendoza, and the Chilean Karate Federation president and WKF Executive Committee member María Angélica Coronil, among many others. 

“I was delighted to meet with so many sports officials and state authorities at the Pan American Games. We could definitively attest the tremendous popularity of Karate all over the world during this event. I want to thank Presidents Martin Vizcarra and Sebastián Piñera for taking the time to visit our competition in Lima. I hope they had the chance to see first-hand the magnificence and many values of our sport,” said WKF President Antonio Espinós. 

(Picture: From left to right: WKF President Antonio Espinós, the President of Chile Sebastián Piñera and the President of Peru Martin Vizcarra).