Karate News: September 7–13, 2026

Another busy week in the karate world: continental championships wrapped up in Africa and Asia, Iran and Egypt topped their respective medal tables, and the Asian Karate Federation mapped out the road ahead — including a major step in the campaign to bring karate back to the Olympic Games. Here is what happened.

Iran Tops Medal Table at Asian Youth Championships in Amman

Iran claimed the continental team title at the 24th AKF Cadet, Junior and U21 Karate Championships in Amman, Jordan (September 8–11), collecting 11 gold, 12 silver and 8 bronze medals — 31 in total. Saudi Arabia and host nation Jordan finished second and third in the standings. On the final day, Iran's Under-21 women swept the women's events with four gold medals, highlighted by Ghazal Fathi's commanding 11-1 victory over Saudi Arabia's Joud Mayajan in the under-50kg final. Nearly 400 athletes from 21 countries competed for the future-star titles of Asian karate.

Source: Press TV

Qatar Celebrates Gold and Silver in Amman

Qatar enjoyed one of its best showings at an Asian championship: Abdulrahman Moustafa won gold in the Under-21 men's under-60kg division, defeating Chinese Taipei's Shih Po-Yun 11-3 in the quarterfinals, Saudi Arabia's Sultan Al-Masiri 11-7 in the semifinals, and India's Viraj Saini 4-1 in the final. A day earlier, teammate Hassan Mansour earned silver in the junior men's over-76kg division. The two medals are being hailed by the Qatar Taekwondo, Judo and Karate Federation as a sign of the country's steady rise ahead of major continental and world events.

Source: Qatar News Agency (Fana News)

Malaysia's Double Kata Gold at Asian Championships

Malaysia's kata squad delivered two gold medals in Amman. In the women's U21 individual kata, 20-year-old Ivy Olivera Donny beat Iran's Ailin Baharijavadhesari 4-1 in the final to take the title, while Muhammad Arif Hafizi Hishamadi took silver in the men's U21 kata after falling to the UAE's Rami Fawzi Abu. Earlier in the week, Nur Aneesa Aira Mohamad Affendi won the junior women's individual kata, defeating Chinese Taipei's Chen Po-Jen 4-1 — a historic first Asian title for the island of Labuan after a 34-year wait.

Source: Asean Observer

Egypt Dominates 2026 UFAK Championships in Algiers

Egypt finished top of the medal table at the 2026 UFAK African Karate Championships in Algiers (September 10–13) with a haul of 30 gold, 8 silver and 12 bronze medals — 50 in total. Hosts Algeria finished second with 41 medals, followed by Morocco (26) and Tunisia (18). Senegal also had a weekend to remember: Babacar Kobar became African champion in the senior men's -60kg division and Amadou Cissé won the junior -55kg title, bringing Senegal's tally to eight medals. More than 500 athletes from 29 countries competed across cadet, junior, U21 and senior categories.

Source: World Karate Federation

Asian Congress Awards 2027 Youth Championship to Japan; Olympic Bid Push Continues

The 21st Asian Karate Federation Congress, held in Amman alongside the youth championships, awarded the hosting rights for the 25th Asia Cadet, Junior & U21 Karate Championship to Japan — the event will take place in Tokyo from September 2 to 5, 2027. WKF President Antonio Espinós addressed the delegates and gave an update on international initiatives supporting karate's inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, calling on Asian federations to stay united behind the Olympic objective. The Congress also noted karate's return as a highlight sport at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Source: World Karate Federation

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