Sports Karate Association of Jharkhand (SKAJ), affiliated to the Karate Association of India (KAI), has knocked out Jharkhand State Karate-Do Association (JSKA), a faction of All India Karate Federation (AIKF), to become the official martial arts body of the state. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) gave them the seal of approval on August 8.

In a letter to KAI general secretary Bharat Sharma, the IOA stated that as per directives of the World Karate Federation (WKF) and honouring Rule 29 of the Olympic Charter, it granted affiliation to the association.

Expressing happiness, SKAJ general secretary K.K. Singh said the controversy was finally over. "IOA's letter was long due since the WKF and the Centre pitched for KAI," he said in Jamshedpur.

SKAJ and JSKA, both claimants of the karate outfit in Jharkhand, were conducting simultaneous training camps creating a lot of confusion among karatekas on which was the genuine body.

JSKA had even levelled serious charges against SKAJ general secretary for running a fake outfit and issuing bogus certificates to the learners.

On Friday, JSKA president L. Nageshwar Rao, however, admitted that KAI was now an affiliated unit of IOA and it was time for the SKAJ to work honestly keeping the interests of karatekas in mind. "I have always questioned the functioning of the SKAJ which entertained people who have nothing to do with karate. Now it is time for it to get rid of such people and work to uplift the sport in the state," Rao, a black-belt holder, said.

"It is a huge relief for us. There will be no more confusion on which outfit is authentic," Mohit Raj, a Jamshedpur-based karateka who has taken part in many national competitions, said.