The 25th edition of the Karate World Championships will be held in November 2021. The World Karate Federation decided to postpone the biggest event of the sport due to the uncertain situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

After much consideration and analysis, the Executive Committee of the World Karate Federation approved Monday the postponement of the next Karate World Championships. The 25th edition of the global event had been scheduled for November 17-22, 2020; the championships will be now celebrated from November 16 to 21, 2021.

Following intense negotiations and discussion with the local organisers and the local authorities, Karate’s managing body decided to reschedule the upcoming World Championships as the well-being and safety of competitors and fans could not be ensured amid the ongoing epidemic of COVID-19.

“It has not been an easy decision, but an event of the magnitude and relevance of our World Championships could not be celebrated with enough guarantees as scheduled, due to current circumstances. It is the first time in the 50 years of history of our World Championships that we will not celebrate one edition of our biggest event in its running season. However, I am sure that the tournament in 2021 will continue the outstanding progress of our World Championships, and that a new and thrilling chapter of our history will be written next year in Dubai” said WKF President Antonio Espinós.

The decision to postpone the 25th World Championships to 2021 implies that the 12th World Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships which were scheduled to take place in 2021 in Turkey move now to 2022. Subsequently, the 2022 World Championships in Hungary are transferred to 2023, thus relocating the Senior World Championships to odd years and the World underage Championships to even years. The upcoming edition of WKF General Congress which had been slated for November 2020 in Dubai will take place next year in the Emirate city on the eve of the 2021 World Championships.

“I want to thank the Karate Federation of the UAE and its president Major General Nasser Alrazooqi for their cooperation in these difficult times. With their hard work and commitment, I am convinced that the event next year will be a huge success,” added Espinós.

The last edition of the Karate World Championships was held in Madrid (Spain) in 2018. Nearly 1200 athletes from 131 countries took part in the event in a record-breaking tally of participation in the most anticipated event of the sport.