Antonio Diaz and Douglas Brose re-elected as WKF Athletes Commission members
10/28/2023
WKF Structure, Athletes
World champions and Karate icons Antonio Diaz and Douglas Brose were re-elected to continue being part of the WKF Athletes Commission for another four-year term. The elections to the WKF representative body were held in Budapest (Hungary) during the WKF World Karate Championships.
Diaz and Brose were the ongoing members but the Karate community in Budapest voted for their continuity in the commission and will remain as commission members until 2027. It is the third term for both Diaz and Brose, two of the most respected athletes on the international scene.
Antonio Diaz of Venezuela is a two-time World champion and Olympian. One of Karate’s greatest Kata athletes of all time, Antonio Diaz has headed an era of success in the discipline.
Brazil’s Douglas Brose is a three-time World champion and current titleholder in Male Kumite -60kg.
Headed by WKF Athletes Commission chairman and WKF Executive Committee member Davide Benetello, the WKF Athletes Commission is now formed by Douglas Brose, Antonio Diaz, and current members Stanislav Horuna of Ukraine, Vassiliki Panetsidou of Greece, Elisa Au of the United States and Nguyen Hoang Ngan of Vietnam.
WKF Athletes Commission Davide Benetello said:
“I am very satisfied with the new electronic voting system for the election of the Athletes Commission and with how the election process unfolded. I wish once again good luck to Antonio Diaz and Douglas Brose who, as always, will give new inputs to improve the "Athletes' World" in all its aspects.”
The WKF Athletes Commission with chairman Davide Benetello and WKF President Antonio Espinós.
WKF PRESIDENT ANTONIO ESPINÓS: YOU ARE THE VOICE OF KARATE
The WKF Athletes Commission met Thursday ahead of the end of the election to discuss ways to further improve the well-being of karatekas in competition.
The meeting was chaired by Davide Benetello and had WKF President Antonio Espinós in attendance. The situation of athletes around the world and the updates to the competition system were among the many points on the agenda.
WKF President Antonio Espinós said after the meeting:
“The karatekas represent our raison d’etre, and everything we do is to make sure that they continue thriving not only as athletes but as human beings who best showcase our values. You, as members of the Athletes Commission, are the voice of Karate. And believe me when I say that this voice is always heard, now more than ever. Also, let me tell you that commission chairman Davide Benetello does a tremendous job in always defending the interest of all the athletes and ensuring that all the karatekas, wherever they are, find the best conditions to display their abilities.”
(Top picture: from left to right: Antonio Diaz, Nguyen Hoang Ngan, Vassiliki Panetsidou, WKF President Antonio Espinós, Elisa Au, Douglas Brose, Stanislav Horuna, and WKF Athletes Commission chairman Davide Benetello)