Jhoisber Chataing (Photo WKF)
In one of the most remarkable stories of the World Championships qualification tournament being held this week in Paris, Venezuelan karateka Jhoisber Chataing earned his ticket to the 2025 World Championships in Cairo—despite registering at the last minute and making his first-ever international appearance.
“I really can’t get over the emotion; it has been one of the most amazing experiences I have had in my life,” Chataing said after sealing qualification. “To participate in a World Championship is one of the biggest dreams that a top karateka can fulfil.”
Chataing surprised everyone in the Male Kumite -60kg division, taking one of the six available qualification spots. He topped his pool after defeating John Andrew Rennalls Ayden of Jamaica and Thevendran Kaliana Sundram of Malaysia. In the decisive round, he edged Adam Hamill of Scotland 2–1 in what he called his toughest fight.
“The toughest fight I had was the last one in the classification against Scotland, a karateka with incredible characteristics and attitudes,” he said. “I had to mentally prepare for the clash, and I used a phrase that I use mentally to prepare myself: ‘If you can do it, go and do it; we are here for a reason.’ It was a very, very close bout. In the end, we finished 2 to 1. Finally, I could achieve the result I was hoping for, and now here I am with the ticket to Cairo!”
Chataing revealed that he found out about his entry just as the event was about to occur. “It was a surprise to me to participate here because I found out just two weeks before the event that my quota for participation in the World Championships qualifier was open,” he said. “Between the search for sponsors, the rush and the surprise, little by little, things were happening. I never lost faith.”
The 31-year-old trains at the Antonio Díaz Dojo, the centre owned by Venezuelan karate legend and two-time world champion Antonio Díaz, a global icon of kata.
He expressed deep gratitude to his mentors and supporters. “I want to thank Sensei Antonio Díaz for receiving me in his house, in his dojo,” Chataing said. “I also want to thank my Sensei Eduardo Dávila because without him, none of this would be possible.”
Meanwhile, the women’s -55 kg division saw precise technique and confident performances across the tatamis. Sevinch Rakhimova of Uzbekistan set the tone with a clear 4–0 win over Laura Lisac of Croatia, controlling the match from start to finish. Sweden’s Matilda Rosenlind advanced after a 2–2 draw against Rudina Aliu of North Macedonia, moving on by criteria.
Rina Kodo from Japan showed strong form, defeating Virag Molnar of Hungary 4–1. Belgium’s Ayah El Aidi edged a tactical 1–0 victory over Ku Tsui-Ping of Chinese Taipei, and Azerbaijan’s Madina Sadigova delivered one of the day’s most one-sided results, beating Nejra Sipovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 6–0. Closing the category, Italy’s Viola Lallo earned a hard-fought 3–2 win against Lucy Hrdlickova of the Czech Republic.
The women’s Kumite -68 kg category brought tactical contests and bursts of energy from start to finish. Austria’s Hanna Devigili edged past Line Zacho Knudsen of Denmark 6–4, while Lynn Snel from the Netherlands controlled her match against Iman Ejja of Belgium, taking a 9–5 win.
Iran’s Mobina Heydariozomcheloe delivered a composed 4–1 victory over Wendy Mary Ann Mosquera Riasco of Colombia, while Sara Krivdova of Slovakia kept her opponent, Alexandra Adam of Hungary, scoreless in a solid 4–0 performance. Puerto Rico’s Janessa Michelle Fonseca Romero displayed sharp offensive form in an 8–3 win against Serbia’s Teodora Krstovic. The last qualifier, Vlera Qerimi of Kosovo, secured her ticket after a tense 0–0 draw with Konstantina-Evaggelia Peppa of Greece, advancing by hantei (judges’ decision).
In the men’s Kumite -84 kg class, the intensity was unmistakable as six fighters secured their spots for Cairo. Serbia’s Vladimir Brezancic advanced after a 3–3 draw with Bryan Buka of the USA. Ruben Dario Henao Amu from Colombia impressed with a 5–2 win over Mohamed Abudabous of Libya.
Azerbaijan’s Turgut Hasanov delivered a confident 6–3 victory against Jesus Moreno of Mexico, showing strong attacking rhythm. Also, Ecuador’s Jose Antonio Acevedo edged Demetris Demetriades of Cyprus 3–2 in a close tactical match.
The crowd erupted when Hendrick Confiac of France overwhelmed Michele Martina of Italy 8–0, giving the host nation a standout result as one more representative of the host nation earned the qualifying spot. England’s Ashton Patrick wrapped up the group with a sharp 4–1 victory over Anthony Kelly of Ireland.
The men’s Kumite +84 kg division provided a fitting finale to the tournament, combining physical strength with strategic precision. Luxembourg’s Alexander Davies moved forward after a 4–4 draw against Tomas Kosa of Slovakia, advancing by criteria. Anel Castillo from the Dominican Republic booked his ticket with a last-minute win over Pablo Andres Benavides Palomino of Mexico.
Asiman Gurbanli of Azerbaijan edged Devante Brandon Walters of England 3–2 in a tense bout that went down to the final seconds. Representing WKF-1, Makar Golovin earned a 5–3 victory against Akbarshokh Amonulloev of Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, the United States’ Eduard Sagilyan triumphed in one of the day’s highest-scoring matches, defeating Germany’s Nikolai Sekot 10–7. Rounding off the qualifiers, Ivan Kudzynau of WKF-2 beat Nemanja Jovovic of Montenegro 5-2.
