The 2024 AKF Senior Championships will take place in Hangzhou, China, from September 20 to 22. Asia's largest and most prestigious karate event, this highly anticipated tournament is not just about crowning new champions of Asian karate; it will also determine the final qualifying teams for the Karate World Cup, set to be held later this year in Pamplona, Spain.

With over 360 athletes from 31 countries registered to compete, the competition promises intense clashes across all categories. The stakes are higher than ever as the tournament offers the last opportunity for teams to secure their spots in the upcoming Karate World Cup.

So far, six national teams from four Asian countries have already secured their qualification for the Karate World Cup through their performances at the World Karate Championships. In Hangzhou, 12 more teams will earn their tickets to Pamplona, adding an extra layer of intensity and significance to the competition.

Beyond the Karate World Cup qualifications, the AKF Senior Championships will also crown new kings and queens of Asian karate. Top athletes from powerhouse nations are expected to compete for gold, with most of last year’s champions returning to defend their titles.

Hong Kong’s Mo Sheung Grace Lau in Female Kata, Sofya Berultseva of Kazakhstan in Female Kumite +68kg, Tsui-Ping Ku of Chinese Taipei in Female Kumite -50kg, Atousa Golshadnezhad of Iran in Female Kumite -61kg, in Female Divisions, and Kakeru Nishiyama of Japan in Male Kata, Benham Dehghanzadeh of Iran in Male Kumite -55kg, Kaysar Alpysbay of Kazakhstan in Male Kumite -60kg, Abdel Rahman Almasatfa of Jordan in Male Kumite -67kg, Nurkanat Azhikanov of Kazakhstan in Male Kumite -75kg, and Mohamad Aljafari of Jordan in Male Kumite -84kg are the defending champions in Hangzhou.

The teams that took the title last year are Vietnam and Iran in Female and Male Team Kumite, and Japan in both Male and Female Team Kata.  In the 2023 edition held in Melaka, Malaysia, Kazakhstan topped the medal table with a total of 11 medals, including 3 golds, followed by Japan with 8 medals and Iran with 12.

China, the host nation, is quickly establishing itself as a karate powerhouse. After hosting a memorable edition of the Asian Games last year, Hangzhou is once again set to shine as it welcomes the continent’s best karatekas. Looking ahead, the city will also host a Karate 1-Premier League event next year, further positioning China as a key player in the international karate scene.

All eyes will be on Hangzhou to witness Asia’s best karatekas battle for supremacy and a place on the world stage.

2024 AKF SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS