The 17-year-old Palestinian karate athlete Mariam Bsharat defended her world title, winning gold at the 2026 World Cadet, Junior and U21 Karate Championships in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, and adding another major achievement to her growing career.
Bsharat secured the title on October 17 after defeating Spain’s Noa López González 3–1 in the junior women’s under-66kg kumite final. With this victory, she retained the world crown she first claimed in 2024, proving that her place among the sport’s rising talents is no coincidence.
A Close Semi-Final and a Gold-Winning Finish
The road to gold was not without its challenges. Bsharat faced Japan’s Wakana Karikomi in the semi-final, edging past her opponent in a closely contested 8–7 match to secure her place in the final.
She then faced Spain’s López González in the gold-medal bout, where a 3–1 victory sealed her second consecutive world title. The win came at the World Karate Federation’s World Cadet, Junior and U21 Championships, which brought together young athletes from 114 countries in Poland.
From Cadet Champion to Junior World No. 1
Bsharat first made her mark on the world stage in 2024, when she won gold in the cadet women’s kumite over-61kg category at the World Cadet, Junior and U21 Championships in Venice-Jesolo, Italy. She defeated Egypt’s Roaa Mohamed 2–0 in the final to become a world champion.
Since then, she has continued to build her record across international competitions, including Asian championships and the Karate 1 Youth League. The World Karate Federation’s rankings also place her at the top of the junior women’s under-66kg category, reflecting her continued success as she moves through the sport’s age divisions.
At just 17, Bsharat has already established an impressive international record, with world and Asian championship achievements and Youth League titles behind her. Defending her world title is another milestone in a career that continues to put Palestinian karate on the international map.
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