Amman – The Jordanian national karate team begins its campaign at the 2026 World Cup of National Teams with big ambitions to continue its international achievements. The tournament is being hosted in the Chinese city of Hangzhou from 20 to 22 November, with 38 countries and 357 athletes taking part.
اضافة اعلان
The national team left for China early yesterday to adjust to the time difference and local conditions, and to raise its readiness before competition begins. It hopes to make a strong impression and compete for the top placings.
The delegation is led by Hassan Masoud, president of the Jordan Karate Federation, while technical director Mohammad Fatyan oversees training. The team competing in team kumite comprises Abdullah Hammad, Afif Ghaith, Mohammad Al-Jaafari, Saif Al-Din Bani Hani, Hamza Al-Sharafi, Walid Qataymesh, Amin Al-Maghrabi and Khamis Abu Hawsa.
The official draw placed the national team in Group 3, alongside Italy, Chile, Georgia and Tunisia. The group features a range of different styles, putting the team up against strong opposition on its path to the knockout stages.
Under the tournament format, the top two teams in each group advance to the quarter-finals, before moving into knockout matches and the competition for titles and medals.
Masoud told Al Ghad that the tournament features fierce competition, with an elite group of world teams taking part. He said the national team is counting on its players' technical and physical abilities to deliver standout performances and achieve results worthy of Jordanian karate's reputation. He added that Jordan's participation carries particular importance given the team's impressive results in recent years, especially in team kumite, where Jordan has established its presence on the international stage and competed against sides with great experience and history in the sport.
Masoud said the team hopes to use its participation in this edition to affirm its global standing and build on previous successes, in line with the ambitions of Jordanian fans to see the athletes on the podium and to continue the country's sporting achievements.
On the Arab stage, Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia stand alongside Jordan in team kumite, with strong contests against world sides expected, given how closely matched the teams are and the high ambitions of the participating sides.
This is the second edition of the World Cup of National Teams, which features four competitive categories: team kata for men and women, and team kumite for men and women.
In this tournament, the national team recalls its historic achievement in 2023, when it won the gold medal in team kumite at the World Championships held in Hungary. It was Jordan's first gold medal in its history of participation in world championships.
