Riyadh: The Saudi Kickboxing Federation signed a cooperation agreement with the People with Disabilities Club in Riyadh to introduce a para kickboxing academy for athletes with disabilities.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the agreement was signed by Executive Director of the Saudi Boxing and Kickboxing Federation Ahmed Al-Shehri and CEO of the People with Disabilities Club Abdulrahman Al-Shuailan. This collaboration aims to leverage the club's facilities for training and rehabilitation programs.

The initiative seeks to develop para kickboxing, enhance training and rehabilitation programs, and enable participants to compete in national and international events. The academy will focus on talent identification and development in line with the latest technical standards. It will provide a comprehensive training environment to prepare athletes for international competition.

It will also implement specialized workshops and joint programs to train technical and administrative staff in this field. The move comes amid growing international attention to para kickboxing and highlights the increasing competitiveness and achievements of Saudi athletes in recent global competitions. The Saudi team finished third at the recent world kickboxing championship and secured gold, silver, and bronze medals.

The academy aligns with the 'Qader' initiative, a strategic program of the Saudi Kickboxing Federation designed to empower individuals with disabilities, expand their participation in sports, and broaden the base of practitioners, in line with the Kingdom's objectives for sports sector development.