Defending champions including Irina Zaretska of Azerbaijan will be competing in Budapest ©Getty Images

The 2023 Karate World Championships is set to be the biggest ever tournament in terms participants, the World Karate Federation (WKF) has claimed.

According to WKF, 700 athletes from 79 countries have confirmed their participation.

With registrations ongoing, the WKF believes the final number could be much higher.

The previous edition in Dubai saw 900 athletes from 105 countries compete.

A few years ago in Madrid in 2018, the numbers were 1,100 athletes from 131 nations.

The 2023 World Championships is scheduled to be held in Budapest from October 24 to 29.

Four defending champions have put their names in for the 2023 edition, including Ahlam Youssef of Egypt in women's kumite under-55 kilograms, Irina Zaretska of Azerbaijan in women's kumite under-68kg, Steven Dacosta of France in men's kumite under-67kg, and Youssef Badawy of Egypt in men's kumite under-84kg.

Steven Dacosta of France has also put forward his name for the Karate World Championships in Budapest ©Getty Images
Steven Dacosta of France has also put forward his name for the Karate World Championships in Budapest ©Getty Images

The Championships in Budapest is set to be the last tournament under the current format.

After that, WKF has plans to host the World Team Championships and World Individual Championships in alternate years.

Budapest 2023 will act as a qualifier for the 2024 World Team Championships, set to be held in Pamplona.

Japan finished as the best nation at the 2021 World Championships with four gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

Egypt came second with three gold, two silver and three bronze medals while Spain was third on two gold and three silver medals.