As the Karate competition at The World Games 2022 is about to start, the final list of participants has been confirmed. No less than 32 Olympians will compete in Birmingham including two gold medallists. The event will also have eight World champions fighting for the crowns.

In Kata categories, Olympic Games gold medallist and World champion Sandra Sanchez of Spain spearheads the list of frontrunners.

Olympic Games medallists Damian Quintero of Spain and Mo Sheung Grace Lau of Hong Kong are also hoping to cause a sensation in Birmingham.

World champions Douglas Brose of Brazil, Dastonbek Otabolaev of Kazakhstan, and Youssef Badawy of Egypt lead the way in Male Kumite.

The male categories in the fighting discipline of Karate also have Olympic Games medallists Darkhan Assadilov of Kazakhstan, Karoly Gabor Harspataki of Hungary, and Stanislav Horuna of Ukraine as favourites.  

Meanwhile, in Female Kumite, the quest for gold is expected to be thrilling with many of the biggest names of the sport participating in the event.

Hoping to take the double crown in Birmingham, World Champions and Olympians Miho Miyahara of Japan and Irina Zaretska of Azerbaijan, and World titleholders Ahlam Youssef of Egypt and Maria Torres of Spain reach the event as the athletes to beat.  

Olympic Games gold medallist Ivet Goranova of Bulgaria will also catch the attention of fans, just as Olympic Games medallists Anzhelika Terliuga of Ukraine and Sofya Berultseva of Kazakhstan.   

The host country is participating in Birmingham with a promising delegation that combines experienced and up-and-coming athletes. Olympians Thomas Scott, Brian Irr and Sakura Kokumai are the leaders of the USA squad hoping to use the home-ground factor in their favour in Birmingham.

THE WORLD GAMES 2022 ON OLYMPIC CHANNEL         

The 2022 edition of The World Games will be available live on the Olympic Channel (Olympics.com). As announced yesterday, the highlights and the competition of the 34 sports in the programme will be streamed on the sports content hub of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Restrictions will be applied in countries where the rights of the event have been acquired by a TV network.

CLICK HERE to go to the micro-site of Karate at The World Games 2022.