WKF World Ranking: Celebrating the Top Karate Athletes of 2024
12/27/2024
The World Karate Federation (WKF) World Ranking highlights the pinnacle of achievement in karate. As the year concludes, the rankings showcase the athletes who have excelled across 12 categories. Points are earned through outstanding performances in WKF’s top events, solidifying the status of these karatekas as the best in their divisions.
Female Kata: Mo Sheung Grace Lau (HKG)
Mo Sheung Grace Lau of Hong Kong tops the Female Kata ranking with 6660.00 points. As the current continental champion and World Championships runner-up, Lau has outperformed Grand Winner Maho Ono of Japan to claim the number one spot.
Lau finishes the year with medals in all her international appearances including golds at the Karate 1-Premier League Antalya and continental championships.
Female Kumite -50kg: Yorgelis Salazar (VEN)
Venezuela’s Yorgelis Salazar leads the Female Kumite -50kg category. A world bronze medallist and six-time Karate 1-Premier League winner, Salazar’s consistent performances place her 450 points ahead of Kazakhstan’s Moldir Zhangbyrbay, the reigning Grand Winner and world champion.
Two-time continental champion Salazar has won two gold medals in 2024, and the title of the Karate 1-Premier League events in Paris and Casablanca.
Female Kumite -55kg: Anzhelika Terliuga (UKR)
Anzhelika Terliuga of Ukraine dominates the Female Kumite -55kg division with an impressive lead of 1,080 points. The three-time continental champion holds her position over Valentina Toro of Chile, the current Grand Winner.
Terliuga managed to retain the top position of the ranking despite not reaching the podium in her three international appearances this season.
Female Kumite -61kg: Reem Khamis (GER)
Germany’s Reem Khamis sits at the top of the Female Kumite -61kg ranking. The European Championships bronze medallist and Grand Winner maintains a lead of 690 points over China’s world champion, Li Gong in the always-contended category.
The 2023 continental champion claimed gold at the Karate 1-Premier League Cairo and bronze medals in the three other Karate 1-Premier League events of the year.
Female Kumite -68kg: Irina Zaretska (AZE)
Irina Zaretska of Azerbaijan retains her place as the leader in the Female Kumite -68kg category. The reigning world champion boasts an 885-point advantage over Switzerland’s Elena Quirici,who is the Grand Winner and World Championships runner-up.
A dominator of the category, Zaretska has kept the top position even as she was absent from the international scene due to her pregnancy.
Female Kumite +68kg: Sofya Berultseva (KAZ)
Sofya Berultseva of Kazakhstan leads the Female Kumite +68kg category with a slim advantage of 105 points. The Olympic silver medallist narrowly edges out Spain’s Maria Torres, the Grand Winner and World Championships runner-up.
A four-time Karate 1-Premier League winner, Berultseva took silver at the Karate 1-Premier League Casablanca and bronze medals at the Karate 1-Premier League events in Antalya and Cairo and the continental championships.
Male Kata: Kakeru Nishiyama (JPN)
Japan’s Kakeru Nishiyama dominates the Male Kata ranking with a commanding lead of 3,225 points. As the current Grand Winner, Nishiyama outpaces Ariel Torres of the United States, the continental champion.
Nishiyama has claimed gold in all four Karate 1-Premier League events this season and the continental championships.
Male Kumite -60kg: Hiromu Hashimoto (JPN)
Hiromu Hashimoto of Japan takes the top position in the Male Kumite -60kg category. The Grand Winner and continental champion leads with a 690-point advantage over Kuwait’s Abdullah Shaban, a two-time continental champion.
An upcoming star in Karate, Hashimoto finishes the year with golds at the Karate 1-Premier League Casablanca and the continental championships and silver medals at the Karate 1-Premier League events in Paris and Cairo.
Male Kumite -67kg: Abdel Rahman Almasatfa (JOR)
Jordan’s Abdel Rahman Almasatfa leads the Male Kumite -67kg division with a 585-point margin. The current continental champion edges out Morocco’s Said Oubaya, the Grand Winner.
The Olympian and four-time continental champion from Jordan has won gold in all his three international appearances this year, the Karate 1-Premier League events in Cairo and Casablanca and the continental championships.
Male Kumite -75kg: Abdalla Abdelaziz (EGY)
Egypt’s Abdalla Abdelaziz reigns supreme in the Male Kumite -75kg category. The Grand Winner, continental, and world champion has a remarkable lead of 3,165 points over Kazakhstan’s Nurkanat Azhikanov, the continental champion.
Abdelaziz has excelled this year with gold medals in all his participation at major events including the four Karate 1-Premier League tournaments and the continental championships.
Male Kumite -84kg: Mohammad Aljafari (JOR)
Mohammad Aljafari of Jordan tops the Male Kumite -84kg ranking. The World Championships bronze medallist and U21 World Championships runner-up leads by 615 points over Egypt’s Youssef Badawy, a Grand Winner and continental and world champion.
The up-and-coming karateka won gold at the U21 continental championships and the Karate 1-Premier League Cairo, and silver at the U21 World championships and the Karate 1-Premier League Antalya.
Male Kumite +84kg: Taha Tarek Mahmoud (EGY)
Taha Tarek Mahmoud of Egypt closes the rankings as the leader of the Male Kumite +84kg category. With 1,995 points of advantage, Mahmoud holds a significant lead over Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Anes Bostandzic, the U21 World Championships runner-up.
The Grand Winner of the division has taken gold at the Karate 1-Premier League Paris and silver medals at the Karate 1-Premier League events in Antalya, Cairo and Casablanca and the continental championships.
With the WKF World Ranking serving as a benchmark for karate excellence and highlighting the sport’s top performers, the best karate athletes in the world get ready for a new year full of outstanding karate action.