Two Kuwaiti Karate Stars Win Silver Medals at the Islamic Solidarity Games

Kuwait’s representation at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh produced headline-worthy success as two of its top karate athletes delivered impressive performances.

At the sixth edition of the Games, held in the Saudi capital, Kuwaiti champions Abdullah Shaaban and Sayed Mohammed Al‑Mousawi each captured a silver medal—delivering strong results on the international stage.

In the men’s individual kata event, Al-Mousawi secured silver after a disciplined display of form, rhythm and precision. According to coverage from the Kuwaiti media, Al-Mousawi advanced to the final after securing top rankings in the qualifying rounds.

His performance reinforces Kuwait’s growing strength in the kata discipline, which emphasises technical execution rather than direct opponent combat.

Meanwhile, in the men’s kumite-60 kg division, Abdullah Shaaban fought his way to the final, ultimately earning silver for his efforts. News reports indicate that he advanced through the semi-final by defeating his Kazakh opponent and secured his place in the final round. 

This result underlines Shaaban’s consistency at the top tier of international karate competition, maintaining his status as a leading figure in the 60 kg category.

The achievements of both athletes carry significance for Kuwait’s national sporting agenda. Their medals at the Islamic Solidarity Games not only add to the country’s international medal tally but also serve as an inspiration for younger athletes in Kuwait’s karate and martial-arts programmes.

With the kata and kumite formats requiring distinct skill-sets—kata being performance-based and kumite being direct combat—the dual successes showcase the breadth of Kuwait’s proficiency across karate disciplines.

Kuwait’s two-medal haul in karate strengthens its position among participating nations and demonstrates that its athletes can compete—and win—at high-level multisport events in the region.