PHOTOS: APR Karate Club’s new faces shine to win 2026 Japan Ambassador’s Cup

APR Karate Club emerged as the overall winner of the 16th edition of the Japan Ambassador’s Cup, an annual karate tournament organized by the Embassy of Japan in Rwanda in collaboration with the Rwanda Karate Federation (FERWAKA), held at Kigali Universe on March 7, 2026.

Unlike previous competitions, The Rwanda Defence Force’s team competed with several newly players who recently joined the club officially, including Niyitanga Khalifa, Shyaka, Fiston, Shariff, Kagimbi, among others.

APR dominated the competition in both Kata and Kumite across men’s and women’s categories to claim the overall title.

In the men’s team standings, APR finished ahead of Rafiki Karate Club, SOF Karate‑Do Bigogwe and Collège St‑André Karate Team.

In the women’s category, APR also secured top place ahead of Agahozo Shalom Karate Club, Rafiki and Flying Eagle Karate Club.

In the women’s Kumite event, athletes from Agahozo Shalom dominated the podium, with Irakoze Aline and Yezakuzwe Lucie finishing first and second respectively.

They were followed by Abayisenga Paremonique of APR and Niyonkuru Joselyne of Rafiki.

APR’s Ntwari Fiston won the men’s under-67kg Kumite category, finishing ahead of Ndutiye Shyaka Mike and teammate Dushime Sharif, while Ngoga Arthur of Warriors Karate Club also featured among the top competitors.

In the men’s +67kg category, Kagimbi Paul of APR secured first place. He was followed by Munyaburanga Jean Claude of Warriors, Niyitanga Khalifa of APR and Usengimana Omar, also representing APR.

The event attracted several high-profile guests, including Japan’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Kazuya Nakajo, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Sports Rwanda Candy Basomingera, Rwanda’s Minister of Health Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana and Umutoni Salama, Second Vice President of the Rwanda National Olympic Committee.

Speaking during the event, Ambassador Nakajo praised the steady growth of karate in Rwanda and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting the development of the sport.

He highlighted the recent international participation of APR’s Ntwari Fiston, who represented Rwanda among the top 32 athletes at the World Karate Championship held in Egypt in November 2025.

The president of the Rwanda Karate Federation, Niyongabo Damien, said the format used in this year’s competition allowed athletes to showcase a higher level of performance. He also thanked the Japanese Embassy for donating tatami mats, which were used during the tournament.

About 50 athletes participated in this year’s Japan Ambassador’s Cup.

Competitors were selected based on their performances in previous national tournaments organized by the Rwanda Karate Federation in 2025, with eligibility set at 18 years and above for men and 16 years and above for women.

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