The World Karate Federation (WKF) has officially announced the full list of qualified athletes set to compete in The World Games 2025. The highly anticipated multi-sport event will take place in Chengdu, China, from August 7 to 17, with the karate competition scheduled for August 8 and 9.

A total of 96 athletes have earned their spots in the competition, with eight competitors in each category, with the best of the best of Karate in action in Chengdu.

Female Divisions

In Female Kata, continental champion Paola Garcia Lozano of Spain and World Championships runner-up Mo Sheung Grace Lau of Hong Kong, China, lead the roster.

The Female Kumite -50kg category features world champion Moldir Zhangbyrbay of Kazakhstan and World Championships runner-up Erminia Perfetto of Italy. Meanwhile, world champion Tuba Yakan of Turkiye and Olympic gold medallist Ivet Goranova of Bulgaria top the Female Kumite -55kg list.

In Female Kumite -61kg, world champion and local favorite Li Gong of China will aim to impress her home crowd as she is expected to become one of the stars of the event for the fans of the sport in China. The Female Kumite -68kg category sees world champion Irina Zaretska of Azerbaijan and World Championships runner-up Elena Quirici of Switzerland at the top of the list.

For the Female Kumite +68kg division, World Championships bronze medallist Clio Ferracuti of Italy and silver medallist Maria Torres of Spain lead the way.

Male Divisions

In Male Kata, continental champion and World Championships bronze medallist Ariel Torres of the United States, along with World Championships silver medallist Damian Quintero of Spain, headline the category.

The Male Kumite -60kg division is led by world champion Christos-Stefanos Xenos of Greece and World Championships runner-up Kaisar Alpysbay of Kazakhstan. In Male Kumite -67kg, World Championships bronze medallist Fahad Alkhathami of Saudi Arabia and World Championships silver medallist Nenad Dulovic of Montenegro top the list.

The always intense Male Kumite -75kg category features world champion Abdalla Abdelaziz of Egypt and World Championships runner-up Karoly Gabor Harspataki of Hungary. In Male Kumite -84kg, world champion Youssef Badawy of Egypt and World Championships runner-up Mahdi Khodabakhshi of Iran lead the pack.

For Male Kumite +84kg, world champion Mehdi Filali of France and World Championships runner-up Taha Tarek Mahmoud of Egypt round out the list of elite competitors.

A Historic Karate Showcase

Karate has been part of the World Games program since its inception in 1980. As the event heads to China, a country where the sport is experiencing tremendous growth, the competition promises to be a major highlight of the 2025 edition of The World Games. Fans can expect top-tier performances from the world’s best karateka as they clash for gold in Chengdu.

FULL LIST OF QUALIFIED ATHLETES FOR THE WORLD GAMES 2025

The World Games 2025