Ito Wakana and Hamazawa Takeru (Photo WKF)
Japan’s dominance in kata continued at the World Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, as Wakana Ito and Takeru Hamazawa both claimed the junior world titles.
After winning gold in the cadet divisions at the 2024 edition in Venice-Jesolo, Italy, the Japanese stars repeated their success in the junior categories, underlining their potential for the future of the sport.
Ito Wakana secured the women’s junior kata crown with a 4-1 victory over Austria’s Tamara Lehner in the final. Her latest world title adds to an impressive record that includes the 2024 cadet world crown and continental titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The Japanese karateka dominated much of her campaign, recording 5-0 victories over Sofiya Rusakova, Neda Beljkas, Eleni Zervou and Indonesia’s Zaskia Putri Salurante in the semifinals. She also defeated Spain’s Rocio Castro Lopez 4-1 in the final pool round.
“I am very happy because I won in cadet two years ago in Venice and now I won again in junior. It makes me feel very important,” said Ito. “I enjoyed my performance and being able to win here again after winning in Venice.”
The young champion looks up to two-time World champion and Olympic Games silver medallist Kiyou Shimizu, who comes from her hometown.
Takeru Hamazawa followed with gold in men’s junior kata, beating Portugal’s Vasco Mateus 4-1 in the final. He reached the decisive bout after a strong run that included wins over France’s Thomas Huyet-Dumong (4-1), Spain’s Jose Angel Leon De La Pena (3-2), Israel’s Yali Idan Loebel (5-0) and the United States’ Craig Mizokami (3-2). He then defeated Hong Kong, China’s Nuri Wong 5-0 in the semifinals.
“I’d been losing in the national junior championships, so I was really happy to finally win in my last year of junior divisions,” said Hamazawa.
“I’d been under a lot of pressure, as I was when I competed at the 2024 World Championships in Venice, but I’m glad we managed to pull it off. There’s huge, huge pressure, but I am glad that we can continue winning. And because I was able to stand in the very same setting as I did two years ago, I was able to enjoy the same spectacle all over again,” said Hamazawa, who counts karate icon and Olympic Games champion Ryo Kiyuna among his idols.
With their second consecutive world titles across age divisions, Ito and Hamazawa have confirmed their place among the young names to watch in international kata.
Japan, Egypt and the USA lead memorable day
Japan led the junior competition with four consecutive gold medals in junior categories, while the USA claimed two cadet kumite titles. Egypt also secured multiple victories, and host nation Poland celebrated a memorable gold medal through Natalia Balut.
Cadet Categories
Candela Pena Garcia claims another world title
Spain’s Candela Pena Garcia defeated Egypt’s Jana Kassem 5-0 in Cadet Kata Female. The current continental champion secured back-to-back world and European titles.
Javokhir Djakhangirov ends Japan’s run
Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Djakhangirov beat Edmond Zhuo of the USA 5-0 in Cadet Kata Male. He won his first world title and became the first non-Japanese champion in the category since 2019.
Abdelrahim Elzourkany dominates Cadet -52kg
Egypt’s Abdelrahim Elzourkany defeated Ukraine’s Mark Dorosh 9-0 in Cadet Kumite Male -52kg. His commanding performance ended the bout before the allocated time.
Mustafa Alnajjar delivers Jordanian gold
Jordan’s Mustafa Alnajjar beat Slovakia’s Simon Kovacik 2-0 in Cadet Kumite Male -57kg. His victory secured Jordan’s first cadet gold since 2019.
Marko Djorlev wins for North Macedonia
North Macedonia’s Marko Djorlev defeated Hungary’s Adam Bagi 4-1 in Cadet Kumite Male -63kg. He claimed his first world title after previously winning gold at the Karate One Youth League in Porec.
Victoria Jacoby adds world gold
The USA’s Victoria Jacoby beat Spain’s Celia Cofrades del Castillo 3-1 in Cadet Kumite Female -47kg. The current continental champion added the world title to her achievements.
Hanna Olschewski ends Germany’s wait
Germany’s Hanna Olschewski defeated the USA’s Presley Allen 4-1 in Cadet Kumite Female -54kg. Germany celebrated its first cadet world title in the category since Johanna Kneer’s triumph in 2013.
Mihaela Arcalean secures another US victory
The USA’s Mihaela Arcalean beat Türkiye’s Ela Su Yildirim 1-0 in Cadet Kumite Female -61kg, earning the country’s second gold of the day.
Nina Macura wins for Serbia
Serbia’s Nina Macura defeated Latvia’s Jelizaveta Avruskina 3-0 in Cadet Kumite Female 61+kg.
Viktor Kvesic takes Croatian gold
Croatia’s Viktor Kvesic beat Uzbekistan’s Shohjahon Atakhanov 1-0 in Cadet Kumite Male -70kg to become world champion. He follows his brothers Andjelo and Ivan’s footsteps extending the legacy of victorious Croatian karate.
Shamo Kamilov triumphs for Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan’s Shamo Kamilov defeated Portugal’s Daniel Ciuntu 3-0 in Cadet Kumite Male 70+kg and gave the European country its first title of the day,
Junior Categories
Wakana Ito reclaims the world crown
Japan’s Wakana Ito defeated Austria’s Tamara Lehner in Junior Kata Female. After winning the cadet world title in 2024 and the continental junior title in 2025, she added the junior world crown to her record.
Takeru Hamazawa completes another world-title journey
Japan’s Takeru Hamazawa beat Portugal’s Vasco Mateus 4-1 in Junior Kata Male. The 2024 cadet world champion and 2025 junior continental champion secured another major title.
Jun Mitsuie wins on world debut
Japan’s Jun Mitsuie defeated Azerbaijan’s Vusal Ganbarov 3-0 in Junior Kumite Male -55kg, winning gold at his first World Championships.
Takamasa Yatoji extends Japan’s streak
Japan’s Takamasa Yatoji beat Morocco’s Souhaib Azibou 2-0 in Junior Kumite Male -61kg. His victory marked Japan’s fourth consecutive gold in the junior competition that day.
Mouaz Mostafa adds another continental crown
Egypt’s Mouaz Mostafa defeated Japan’s Maari Maeda in Junior Kumite Male -68kg. The bout ended 2-2, with Mostafa securing victory as the current continental champion and adding another world title to his achievements.
Sofia Pavone takes Italy’s gold
Italy’s Sofia Pavone beat Portugal’s Isis Matos 3-2 in Junior Kumite Female -48kg and reached the top of the podium for the first time today for the powerhouse nation of the sport.
Maryam Echamaa wins for France
France’s Maryam Echamaa defeated Egypt’s Malak Afifi in Junior Kumite Female -53kg. The bout ended 1-1, with Echamaa taking France’s first gold of the day.
Morgane Scarfone dominates the final
France’s Morgane Scarfone beat Vietnam’s Tran Thi Cam Tu 6-0 in Junior Kumite Female -59kg. The current continental runner-up also won gold at this year’s Karate One Youth League in Porec.
Mariam Bsharat adds another major title
Palestine’s Mariam Bsharat defeated Spain’s Noa Lopez Gonzalez 3-1 in Junior Kumite Female -66kg. The current continental champion and 2024 cadet world champion also boasts three Karate One Youth League titles.
Natalia Balut delivers a historic Polish victory
Poland’s Natalia Balut beat Egypt’s Roaa Eltaher 4-2 in Junior Kumite Female 66+kg. The current continental bronze medallist won her first gold medal in front of family and friends. Her victory gave Poland its first gold of the tournament and its first title at the event since 2017.
Sungkar Kanibek claims Kazakhstan’s gold
Kazakhstan’s Sungkar Kanibek defeated Scotland’s Cullen Brodie 4-0 in Junior Kumite Male -76kg. After winning bronze in Manila this year, he added a world title to his achievements, having also won the cadet continental championships in 2023.
Vuk Vucinic wins a high-scoring final
Montenegro’s Vuk Vucinic beat Ukraine’s Vladyslav Rudenko 7-4 in Junior Kumite Male 76+kg. The current continental champion secured the world title in a closely contested final.
The championships continue in Bielsko-Biala, with the U212 categories set to bring more young karatekas into the spotlight as the event celebrates talent from across the world.
