WKF President Antonio Espinós travelled to Santiago (Chile) to attend the Karate competition of the 2023 Pan American Games. Only days after the historic 2023 World Championships in Budapest, the Karate family celebrated another memorable event of the sport.

The Karate competition of the 2023 Pan American Games was held in Santiago from November 3 to 5. Hosts of Chile topped the final medal table of the Karate tournament with five medals, including three golds, followed by the United States with five medals and three golds, and Venezuela with five medals and two golds.

At the event, Mr Espinós was joined by PKF President and WKF Vice President José García Maañón and WKF Executive Committee members Craig Vokey and Samantha Desciderio.

WKF President Antonio Espinós said:

“Karate has demonstrated, once again, its tremendous potential and great added value at multi-sport events. The respect, honour and excitement of our competition is unparalleled, and I am sure that sports fans in Chile and all over the Americas enjoyed the fantastic sporting spirit of Karate. We have been part of the sports programme of the Pan American Games since 1995 and I am convinced that our sport has a bright future in this event. We are looking forward to continuing being one of the highlights of the event at the 2027 Pan American Games in Colombia.

“I want to thank PKF President José García Maañón for leading the PKF’s efforts to ensure the success of Karate here in Chile.”

(Top picture: From left to right: Mexico Karate Federation President and WKF Executive Committee member Samantha Desciderio, WKF President Antonio Espinós, PKF President and WKF Vice President José García Maañón, Canada Karate Federation President and WKF Executive Committee member Craig Vokey).

WKF President Antonio Espinós (centre), PKF President and WKF Vice President José García Maañón, and WKF Executive Committee members Craig Vokey and Samantha Desciderio pose with the referees officiating at the Pan American Games.