Renowned French karateka Christophe Pinna on Sunday, December 15, signed a two-year agreement with local Karate governing body (FERWAKA) to help elevate the sport in Rwanda.
The agreement was signed after a three-day technical seminar he conducted at the NPC gymnasium, underscoring his commitment to nurturing young talent in Karate.
The agreement offers Pinna an opportunity to regularly upgrade his seminar programmes in Rwanda. He will provide technical support to the federation, helping to sharpen the skills of Rwandan karatekas and prepare them for higher levels of competition.
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Additionally, Pinna pledged to incorporate promising karatekas into his Elite Academy in France, creating pathways for them to compete on international platforms.
Minister of sports Richard Nyirishema who attended the closing day of the session, commended Pinna and FERWAKA for the continued collaboration and expressed optimism about the potential to promote Rwandan karate on a global stage.
Pinna, a celebrated figure in the world of karate, is a former World and European champion with a decorated career. He has been conducting technical seminars in Rwanda since 2022.
During the just-concluded seminar, he lauded the progress made by Rwandan karatekas, highlighting the medals they recently won at the 11th Commonwealth Karate Championships in South Africa, and other continental championships, as a proof of their growing competitiveness.
"Rwanda has incredible talent. It’s time to take their progress to the next level. I’m proud of how far they’ve come,” said Pinna.
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Damien Niyomugabo, the president of FERWAKA, described having someone of Pinna’s caliber leading the seminars as "a privilege” for Rwandan Karate and hopes the partnership will boost local athletes’ performance.
"His seminars are already bearing fruit as seen in our recent achievements on the international stage. This agreement represents a bright future for Rwandan karate,” he said.
As part of the programme’s achievements, national team captain Fiston Ntwari was recognized as the best performer in the recent competitions. Ntwari is set to represent Rwanda at a tournament in France, in January 2025, further solidifying the tangible benefits of the partnership.
At 56, Pinna is a renowned name in the Karate world. He won the European Championship three times (1993, 1995 and 1997) on top of the claiming world championship in 2000.
He also won the &039;Goblet of the World' twice (1993, 1997), a medal at the Mediterranean Games in 1992 and the Mundo Equipos Championship three times (1994, 1996 and 1998).