Kuala lumpur: The proposal to include karate as one of the sports contested at the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) championships will be brought to the Cabinet next week, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced. Ahmad Zahid, who chairs the Cabinet Committee on Sports Development, stated that the issue would be discussed with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek for potential inclusion. According to BERNAMA News Agency, this initiative was revealed during the International Open Karate Championship 2026 at Titiwangsa Stadium, where Ahmad Zahid addressed reporters. The championship, now celebrating its 25th edition, has drawn over 1,850 participants from 17 countries, highlighting the sport's growing popularity and international appeal. Putrajaya Karate Association president Datuk P. Thiagu, who also serves as the tournament's organiser, has been a vocal advocate for karate's inclusion in the MSSM competition calendar. Thiagu emphasized the importance of integrating karate into sc hool sports to bolster the sport's grassroots development. He expressed hope that the inclusion could lead to the nurturing of more skilled athletes in the future. This proposal aims to capitalize on karate's increasing popularity in schools and could potentially pave the way for a new generation of martial artists in Malaysia, if implemented successfully.