More than 500 competitors from 15 states and Union Territories the country will participate in the 27th Senior IAKO National Kickboxing Championship to be held at the SOA stadium here from December 29 to January 1 next.

The competition will be held in different categories with the 26th Sub-Junior and 26th Junior championship being conducted in both men’s and women’s category simultaneously.

Odisha had emerged the Team Runner-Up in the last National Kickboxing Championship held at Jodhpur in Rajasthan a year ago. The All Orissa Kickboxing Association (AOKA), which is a member of the Indian Association of Kickboxing Organisations (IAKO) will organize the event.

The IAKO, which has its headquarters in Bhubaneswar, has been credited with introducing Kickboxing in India in 1993 in School and University Games. Indian Kickboxers have won medals in Asian Indoor Games and Asian Indoor Martial Art Games since 2007, Mr. Pruthwiraj Harichandan, Organising Secretary of the championship and General Secretary of AOKA, said.