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The World Karate Federation (WKF) World Ranking highlights the highest level of achievement in the sport of karate.
As 2024 comes to a close, the rankings highlight athletes who have excelled across 12 distinct categories.
Points are earned through exceptional performances at WKF’s premier events, cementing 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 leads the Female Kata ranking with 6660.00 points. As the current continental champion and World Championships runner-up, Lau outshines Japan’s Grand Winner Maho Ono to claim the top spot.
Lau’s year was marked by success, capturing medals at every international event she entered, including gold at the Karate 1-Premier League in Antalya and the continental championships.
Female Kumite -50kg – Yorgelis Salazar (VEN)
Yorgelis Salazar from Venezuela is at the forefront of the Female Kumite -50kg category. A world bronze medallist and six-time Karate 1-Premier League winner, Salazar has demonstrated consistency, leading by 450 points over Kazakhstan’s Moldir Zhangbyrbay, the reigning Grand Winner and world champion.
The two-time continental champion added two golds to her impressive tally in 2024, claiming top honors at the Karate 1-Premier League events in Paris and Casablanca.
Female Kumite -55kg – Anzhelika Terliuga (UKR)
Ukraine’s Anzhelika Terliuga stands unchallenged at the top of the Female Kumite -55kg division with a commanding lead of 1,080 points.
The three-time continental champion holds her position ahead of Valentina Toro from Chile, the current Grand Winner.
Despite not reaching the podium in three international appearances this year, Terliuga has managed to retain her ranking.
Female Kumite -61kg – Reem Khamis (GER)
Germany’s Reem Khamis sits comfortably at the top of the Female Kumite -61kg category, holding a 690-point advantage over China’s world champion, Li Gong. Khamis, a European Championships bronze medallist and Grand Winner, claimed gold at the Karate 1-Premier League in Cairo and earned bronze in the three other Karate 1-Premier League events of the year, solidifying her top position.
Female Kumite -68kg – Irina Zaretska (AZE)
Irina Zaretska of Azerbaijan continues to dominate the Female Kumite -68kg category, holding an 885-point lead over Switzerland’s Elena Quirici, the World Championships runner-up and Grand Winner.
Zaretska, a force in the division, managed to keep the top spot despite being absent from international competition due to her pregnancy.
Female Kumite +68kg – Sofya Berultseva (KAZ)
Kazakhstan’s Sofya Berultseva leads the Female Kumite +68kg category by a narrow margin of 105 points.
The Olympic silver medallist holds off Spain’s Maria Torres, the Grand Winner and World Championships runner-up. A four-time Karate 1-Premier League champion, Berultseva earned silver at the Karate 1-Premier League in Casablanca and bronze at events in Antalya, Cairo, and the continental championships.
Male Kata – Kakeru Nishiyama (JPN)
Japan’s Kakeru Nishiyama dominates the Male Kata ranking with a formidable lead of 3,225 points. As the current Grand Winner, Nishiyama outpaces Ariel Torres of the United States, the continental champion.
Nishiyama’s perfect season includes gold at all four Karate 1-Premier League events and the continental championships.
Male Kumite -60kg – Hiromu Hashimoto (JPN)
Hiromu Hashimoto from Japan clinches the top spot in the Male Kumite -60kg category, holding a 690-point lead over Kuwait’s Abdullah Shaban, a two-time continental champion.
Hashimoto’s standout year saw him claim gold at the Karate 1-Premier League in Casablanca and the continental championships, along with silver medals in Paris and Cairo.
Male Kumite -67kg – Abdel Rahman Almasatfa (JOR)
Jordan’s Abdel Rahman Almasatfa leads the Male Kumite -67kg division by 585 points. The continental champion edges out Morocco’s Said Oubaya, the Grand Winner.
Almasatfa, an Olympian and four-time continental champion, claimed gold in every international appearance this year, including 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 with a remarkable lead of 3,165 points over Kazakhstan’s Nurkanat Azhikanov, the continental champion.
Abdelaziz, a Grand Winner, continental, and world champion, dominated the season, winning gold in all his participations at major events, including the four Karate 1-Premier League tournaments and the continental championships.
Male Kumite -84kg – Mohammad Aljafari (JOR)
Mohammad Aljafari from 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/world champion.
Aljafari’s strong year included gold at the U21 continental championships and Karate 1-Premier League in Cairo, along with silver at the U21 World Championships and Karate 1-Premier League in Antalya.
Male Kumite +84kg – Taha Tarek Mahmoud (EGY)
Taha Tarek Mahmoud of Egypt closes out the rankings as the leader of the Male Kumite +84kg category, with a substantial 1,995-point advantage over Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Anes Bostandzic, the U21 World Championships runner-up.
Mahmoud, the Grand Winner of the division, claimed gold at the Karate 1-Premier League in Paris and silver at events in Antalya, Cairo, and Casablanca, as well as at the continental championships.
With the WKF World Ranking serving as a standard for karate excellence, the top athletes prepare for the upcoming year filled with thrilling competition and exceptional performances.
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