The 60th edition of the EKF Senior Championships has brought the heart of European Karate to Yerevan, Armenia, marking a historic moment for the city as it hosts its first major karate event. From May 7 to 11, the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex becomes the center of high-level kata and kumite competition, gathering over 550 athletes from 50 countries.
As the European karate elite vie for supremacy and qualification to the 2025 World Championships in Cairo, fans are witnessing thrilling encounters across individual and team events, as well as in Para-Karate. Here are some of the standout matchups lighting up the tatami in Yerevan:
🥋 Kata Finals – Technical Brilliance on Display
- Female Kata:
🇫🇷 Taily Helvetia (France) faces 🇮🇹 Terryana D’Onofrio (Italy) in a battle of grace and precision. - Male Kata:
🇹🇷 Enes Ozdemir (Türkiye) takes on 🇪🇸 Raul Martin Romero (Spain), promising a clash of traditional forms and explosive execution.
🥊 Kumite Finals – Power Meets Tactics
- Female Kumite +68kg:
🇬🇷 Kyriaki Kydonaki (Greece) vs 🇺🇦 Dariia Bulay (Ukraine) - Female Kumite -68kg:
🇪🇸 Maria Isabel Nieto Mejias (Spain) vs 🇩🇪 Hannah Riedel (Germany) - Female Kumite -61kg:
🇱🇻 Beata Girvica (Latvia) vs 🇺🇦 Oleksandra Sholohova (Ukraine) - Male Kumite +84kg:
🇭🇷 Andjelo Kvesic (Croatia) vs 🇫🇷 Mehdi Filali (France) - Male Kumite -84kg:
🇺🇦 Valerii Chobotar (Ukraine) vs 🇭🇷 Ivan Kvesic (Croatia) - Male Kumite -75kg:
🇲🇪 Nemanja Mikulic (Montenegro) vs 🏴 Ernest Sharafutdinov (EKF-1)
🏆 What’s at Stake
This year’s edition is more than just a battle for continental glory—it’s also a gateway to the World Championships in Cairo, with medalists securing direct qualification. The stakes are high, the pressure immense, and the performances nothing short of world-class.
🌍 Yerevan’s Karate Debut
Yerevan has stepped confidently onto the international karate stage. As a rising force in Eastern European martial arts, Armenia is not only hosting this year’s EKF Seniors but is also set to welcome the 2027 Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships, underlining its growing influence in the sport.
🔙 Looking Back and Ahead
Last year’s tournament in Zadar featured 570 athletes from 51 countries, with Türkiye leading the medal table. Many top contenders return this year—Andjelo Kvesic (CRO) and Dilara Bozan (TUR) among them—determined to defend their titles. Yet, several divisions, like Female Kumite -61kg/-68kg and Male Kumite -67kg, are set to crown new champions, injecting fresh energy into the field.
📅 Schedule Highlights
- Eliminations: May 7–9
- Opening Ceremony: May 8 at 19:00
- Finals & Bronze Matches:
- Individual: May 10
- Team & Para-Karate: May 11
Stay tuned to Karate.news for full results, medal breakdowns, athlete profiles, and behind-the-scenes insights as #KarateYerevan2025 continues to deliver unforgettable moments in martial arts history.