The city of Bielsko-Biala hosted the 18th edition of the Polish Open. The event gathered no less than 2,000 competitors from 32 countries, a testament to the popularity of the sport and the great recognition of the event amongst the Karate community worldwide.
With the participation of top elite athletes, the tournament has firmly established itself as one of the most popular international karate events. The competition took place across 12 competition areas, with the support of 120 referees from all over the world. Over two days, participants engaged in fierce competition, delivering high-level performances that thrilled the spectators.
The event was held under the patronage of the Mayor of Bielsko-Biala, Jaroslaw Klimaszewski, along with the Minister of Sports and Tourism, Sawomir Nitras, and the Polish Olympic Committee, underscoring the significance and prestige of the tournament in the world of martial arts.
After the thrilling competition, representatives of Ukraine topped the medal table with 39 gold medals. Karatekas from Slovakia and hosts of Poland also registered deserving performances, with 17 and 11 gold medals, respectively.
WKF President Antonio Espinós said:
“The Polish Open is the perfect example of how a country and a National Federation can host a memorable event to elevate the popularity and impact of Karate in a region. In its 18th edition, the Polish Open has instituted its position as one of the most established and better-organised Karate events in Europe. I want to thank the Polish Karate Union and its president, Pawel Poltorzecki for their efforts to contribute to the increasing popularity of karate and to showcase all the excellence and values of the sport.”
To underscore the relevance of Poland and Bielsko-Biala in the Karate ecosystem, the city will host the 2025 EKF Cadet, Junior, & U21 Championships at the same venue in February 2025. The Polish Open 2024 was not only a major sporting success but also an excellent promotion for karate.
