Jornal de Leiria – Marco Carvalho wants to become kempo world champion for the third time

He has already been world kempo champion twice, but these distinctions do not satisfy his desire to win.

Once again called up to the national Kempo team, which is participating in the World Championship, Marco Carvalho is quick to state his objective for this competition: to reach 1st place in the -90 kg category.

Coach and founder of the Associação Desportiva Piranha World Fighters, based in Monte Real, in the municipality of Leiria, Marco Carvalho and the rest of the delegation have already traveled to Turkey, the country that hosts the Kempo World Championship.

“I expect a difficult championship, but I will concentrate to bring the desired result”, said the athlete.

In 2019, in his debut for the national team at the world kempo championships, he reached the highest place on the podium.

Marco Carvalho was once again present at a world final in 2021, the year in which he came in 2nd place.

The following year, he ‘avenged’ the 2021 result and became world champion for the second time.

In 2023, he remained on the podium, this time in 3rd place.

The ‘rematch’ for the last championship will then take place in the next few days and “the focus is there”.

“Going abroad to represent the country is what I enjoy doing most”, confessed the athlete, proud to be part of the Portuguese squad once again.

The Kempo World Championship takes place between the 24th and 28th of April, in Turkey.

Also from the Leiria district, athletes João Tomás, Diogo Tomás, Maria Cardoso and Afonso Morais are part of the Portuguese delegation.