Qatar Karate team opened their campaign in the 9th Arab Karate Championship for men and women 2013 with victory at Al Gharaffa SC indoor in Doha on Friday. Qatar's Adham Abdulnasser Hashem confidently defeated the UAE's counterpart, Marwan Abdullah to win the gold medal in Kata individual, while his teammate, Abdullah Shalon seized the bronze medal in the  Kumite weight U-60 kg. Khalid bin Hamad Al Attiyiah, the president of both Qatar and Arab Karate Federations and Antonio Espino, the president of World Karate Federation (WKF), beside senior WKF  officials attended the opening ceremony on Friday. Qatar Karate Federation (QKF) President Al Attiyiah opened the  championship  on Friday with a welcome speech, congratulated the Qatar wise leadership on the National Day  occasion, showed  the QKFs profound concern to develop the game in the country and whole the region. Ten countries are taking part in the championship including , Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, UAE, Yemen and Palestine, besides hosts Qatar.  Eight countries have come with their women squads and will be aiming for the top honours in the team and five individual events in different weight categories and also in the Kata and Kumite events.  The championship includes different classes, Kata Individual, Kata Team men, besides Kumite weight categories of  -60kg, -67kg, -75kg, -84kg and +84kg. In the women's section, players are competing in Kata Individual, Kata Team, besides Kumite weight categories of-50kg, -55kg, -61kg, -68kg and +68kg. Source: QNA