Karate is all set to make an offline comeback in the steel city on Sunday.

East Singhbhum District Karate Championship will be organised at the Community Centre in Sonari on Sunday. Around 100 karatekas will be seen displaying their talent during the day-long event, which is being organised by the District Karate Do Association of East Singhbhum ( DKAES) and supported by Urban Services (CSR), Tata Steel.

The rules of Karate Association of India (KAI) will be followed for the championship. Kata and Kumite, according to age and belt category of participating boys and girls will be allowed. The championship will be held under the guidance of 12 qualified judges and 3 qualified referees.

"The last offline district karate championship was organised in Jamshedpur in 2018. The Covid-19 pandemic had restricted the karatekas indoors although we did conduct the state championship on a virtual platform earlier this year. The karatekas of the district are happy and eager to perform at the district championship," said Shihan L. Nageshwar Rao, secretary of Jharkhand State Do Karate Association and DKAES.

"I am extremely glad to get an opportunity to perform in an offline event. Remaining indoors owing to the pandemic was very boring. I thank the district karate body for organising the event. I am looking forward to the championship," said Rahul Kumar, a young karateka from Jamshedpur.

Other karatekas also expressed similar views.

Champions' Trophy, Runner's-Up Trophy, 3rd Runner-Up Trophy, Best Karateka (separately for boys and girls) Trophy, medals, certificates and mementos will be handed over to the participants.

Banna Gupta, minister of health medical education, family welfare and disaster management will be chief guest during the opening ceremony at 11.30 am. Anand Menezes, Olympian and senior manager of Tata Steel sports wing, B. Marandi, area officer of Sonari Community Centre of Urban Services (CSR), Tata Steel and Amit Khandelwal, president, Marwari Yuva Manch and JSKA president R. Ravi Prasad will also grace the occasion.

Sabita Mahato, JMM Ichagarh MLA and chairperson of State Pollution Board will be the chief guest during the closing ceremony.