MADRID, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The World Karate Federation announced on Monday that this year's Karate World Championships, originally slated for November in Dubai, will be postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The governing body approved a one-year delay to karate's showpiece event, which had been scheduled for November 17 to 22, 2020. It will now take place from November 16 to 21, 2021.
"It has not been an easy decision, but an event of the magnitude and relevance of our World Championships could not be celebrated with enough guarantees as scheduled, due to current circumstances," WKF President Antonio Espinos said.
"It is the first time in the 50 years of history of our World Championships that we will not celebrate one edition of our biggest event in its running season."
The decision to postpone the World Championships has also had a knock-on effect for the 2022 edition in Budapest, which has transferred to 2023. Subsequently, the WKF relocated the Senior World Championships to odd years and the World underage Championships to even years. Enditem
