We now know the 82 athletes qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. The WKF announced the names of the last 4 chosen by the tripartite commission and by the WKF. Almosawi (Kuw), Smorguner (Ger) and Jovanoska (Mkd) in Kata, Leila Heurtault (Fra) in -61 kg are the lucky ones.

By Ludovic Mauchien / Photo : DR

The list of the only 82 Olympic karatekas in history is now known. To the 78 athletes already qualified via the ranking, the OQT in Paris or under the banner of the Olympic refugees (see the complete list), the last 4 names were communicated by the WKF.

Following the Olympic qualification system, the tripartite commission invited Sayed Mohammed Almosawi (Kuw) and Puleksenija Jovanoska (Mkd) in Kata.

As « no other athlete met the required criteria to be eligible to receive further Tripartite Commission Invitation places », explains the WKF, it is the international federation which chose to award the last two tickets to Ilja Smorguner (Ger) in Kata and Leila Heurtault (Fra) in -61 kg.

In all, 40 women and 42 men from 36 countries will participate in the Karate Olympics, 61 in Kumite and 21 in Kata.