The AKF held its Congress in Kazakhstan ©AKF

The Asian Karatedo Federation rubber-stamped a change of name at its Congress in Astana.

It was agreed in the Kazakh city to re-name the organisation as simply the Asian Karate Federation (AKF).

A new logo will be launched for the governing body to reflect the change.

A number of host cities for AKF events were also confirmed at the Congress.

The 2018 Senior Asian Championships will be held in Jordan while Okinawa in Japan will host the AKF Cadet, Junior and Under-21 Championships in the same year.

Uzbekistan and Indonesia will host the 2019 and 2020 Senior Championships respectively.

Antonio Espinós, the President of the World Karate Federation and the European Karate Federation, was in attendance with his Asian colleagues.

Karate will make its Olympic debut in Asia, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games ©Getty Images
Karate will make its Olympic debut in Asia, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games ©Getty Images

"Events as this AKF Congress and the AKF Championships help us to underline karate's continued progress around the world," the Spaniard said. 

"Our efforts to ensure that the sport is receiving outstanding positive global perception are reaching even greater levels in major continental events such as the AKF Championships. 

"I want to thank continental and national federations for showing great solidarity and for sharing our expectations of a bright future for the sport."

Karate will make its Olympic debut in Asia, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.