KARACHI Wapda successfully defended their title as team captain Kulsum Hazara lifted the 6th National Women's Karate Championship trophy at the Women's Sports Complex here on Sunday.

The two-day championship in the Japanese Shotokan style of karate saw Wapda walking away with four gold medals in both the kumite (sparring) and kata (imaginary fight) competitions. Army and Balochistan had to remain content with the second and third positions, respectively. Team kumite, under-50kg and under-45kg individual kumite and team kata competitions were held on the concluding day.

Wapda's Kulsum Hazara, Beenish Khan, Beenish Akbar and Uzma took gold in the team kumite competition. Railway's team comprising Latifa, Hamida and Naz Gul and Surriya took silver while Kyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh took bronze.

Army's Faiza Shakeel beat Arifa Rasheed of Police to take gold in the -50kg category while Aqsa Rasheed of Railways and Iqra Zafar of Wapda secured third position.

In the -45kg individual kumite competitions, Hamida of Balochistan beat Beenish Akbar of Army to take gold as Bina Masoom Ali of Police and Raheela Shaheen of Army secured the third position along with the bronze medals that come with it.

Wapda's kata team comprising Zohra, Sohaila and Summaiya took gold medal in the team kata competition. Railways took silver while Army picked up bronze.

Federal Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Pir Aftab Shah Jilani and Sindh Minister Shazia Marri, the chief guests on the occasion, distributed the trophies and medals among the winners.

The event was organised by the Pakistan Karate Federation in collaboration with Sindh Karate Association.