WKF Reveals Complete Lineup for Karate at The World Games 2025The World Karate Federation (WKF) has officially unveiled the complete list of karate athletes qualified to compete at The World Games 2025. Scheduled to be hosted in Chengdu, China, from August 7-17, the prestigious event will showcase karate competitions specifically on August 8 and 9.
A total of 96 athletes have qualified for this significant international competition, with each category featuring eight elite competitors from around the globe.
Female categories
In Female Kata, notable competitors include continental champion Paola Garcia Lozano from Spain and World Championships silver medallist Mo Sheung Grace Lau from Hong Kong.
The Female Kumite -50kg category will feature world champion Moldir Zhangbyrbay of Kazakhstan and Italy’s Erminia Perfetto, who was runner-up at the World Championships.
In the -55kg category, spectators will witness world champion Tuba Yakan from Turkey and Olympic champion Ivet Goranova from Bulgaria.
Local fans will be closely following China’s own world champion Li Gong, competing in the Female Kumite -61kg division. Meanwhile, the -68kg division is headlined by Azerbaijan’s Irina Zaretska, a world champion, alongside World Championships runner-up Elena Quirici from Switzerland.
The Female Kumite +68kg division is led by Italy’s World Championships bronze medallist Clio Ferracuti and Spain’s Maria Torres, who secured silver at the World Championships.
Male categories
In Male Kata, prominent names include Ariel Torres from the USA, a continental champion and World Championships bronze medallist, as well as Damian Quintero from Spain, who claimed silver at the World Championships.
Greece’s world champion Christos-Stefanos Xenos leads the Male Kumite -60kg category, along with Kazakhstan’s Kaisar Alpysbay. For the -67kg category, World Championships bronze medallist Fahad Alkhathami of Saudi Arabia and silver medallist Nenad Dulovic from Montenegro top the rankings.
The competitive Male Kumite -75kg division will feature world champion Abdalla Abdelaziz of Egypt, alongside Hungary’s Karoly Gabor Harspataki, the World Championships runner-up. In Male Kumite -84kg, fans will see Egypt’s world champion Youssef Badawy and Iran’s Mahdi Khodabakhshi.
Lastly, the Male Kumite +84kg division is highlighted by France’s Mehdi Filali, reigning world champion, and Egypt’s Taha Tarek Mahmoud, World Championships runner-up.
A Historic Event for KarateKarate has consistently been a central part of The World Games since its inception in 1980. With Chengdu hosting this year’s competition, anticipation is high as karate continues its impressive growth in China. The 2025 games promise intense battles and exceptional performances from the world’s best karate athletes.
Karate Competition:
The Karate events are scheduled for August 8 and 9, featuring 96 top athletes competing across various weight categories. This competition promises to be a highlight, especially given the sport’s growing popularity in China.
