Spain's Sandra Sánchez has been appointed as the chair of the IWGA Athletes' Committee ©Getty Images

Spain’s Olympic karate champion Sandra Sánchez has been announced as the chair of the International World Games Association’s (IWGA) new Athletes’ Committee.

The IWGA Executive Committee approved Sánchez’s appointment before the group is established in early February.

Sánchez claimed individual kata gold when karate made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.

Other career highlights include two world titles, multiple European crowns and two European Games golds.

Sánchez has also enjoyed success at the World Games, earning Wrocław 2017 silver and Birmingham 2022 gold before announcing her retirement from the sport.

Sandra Sánchez enjoyed a glittering career that featured Olympic gold and two World Games titles ©Getty Images
Sandra Sánchez enjoyed a glittering career that featured Olympic gold and two World Games titles ©Getty Images

"We are very fortunate to have a motivated, positive and resourceful athlete such as Sandra Sanchez as the chairperson of our new Athletes’ Committee," said IWGA President José Perurena.

"The World Games is essentially about the athletes - we want to give our athletes the international centre stage that they deserve.

"Therefore it is only natural that we establish an Athletes’ Committee.

"And who better to chair it than a recent champion of The World Games and Olympic Games, with a long and extensive career in one of the sports that has been with us since the beginning in 1981."

The composition of the IWGA Athletes’ Committee is expected to be published in early February.