Karate Canada Names 24 Athletes for North American Karate Cup in Montréal
MONTRÉAL, QC — Karate Canada has named the Canadian roster to compete at the North American Karate Cup, taking place on June 20, 2026 at Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard in Montréal, Québec. The event will see athletes from Canada, the United States, and Mexico compete, with each nation fielding a maximum of two athletes per category.
The North American Cup carries significant weight on the road to Lima 2027: gold medal performances in each category will earn the winning athlete’s national federation a qualification allocation to the 2027 Pan American Games, making every match a high-stakes opportunity to secure Canada’s place on the mat in Peru.
Canada’s delegation spans both kumite and kata disciplines, with elite athletes competing across ten weight categories in addition to individual kata events for women and men. The team is supported by a five-coach technical staff and key high-performance leadership.
“This roster represents the depth and ambition of Canadian karate right now,” said Rodney Hobson, Sport Technical Leader of Karate Canada. “The North American Cup is a critical milestone on our path to Lima 2027, and we’re confident this team is ready to compete for their country.”
CANADIAN TEAM ROSTER
Women
| Category | ||
| F -50 kg | Mikayla German | Emma German |
| F -55 kg | Hana Furumoto-Deshaies | Mahdis Ghamooshi |
| F -61 kg | Lily-Rose Nolet | Melody Monfiston |
| F -68 kg | Hilary Pond | Julia MacLean |
| F +68 kg | Indiana Carlyle-Byford | Kiandokht Ghodsi |
| F Kata | Claudia Laos Loo | Melissa Baillargeon |
Men
| Category | Athlete 1 | Athlete 2 |
| M -60 kg | Muhimen Benmahmud | Anis Mouloudj |
| M -67 kg | Karim Ebraheem | Yassin Miri |
| M -75 kg | Hamoon Derafshipour | Ryan O’Neil |
| M -84 kg | Omar Almishri | Aryan Kohi |
| M +84 kg | Fernando Aguilera | Ethan Small |
| M Kata | Haruki Mori | Philip Bachand |
HIGH PERFORMANCE & SUPPORT STAFF
Coaches: Mitch German, Pam Ross, Ridha Dhrifi, Rock Guindon, Toshi Uchiage, Yevhen Motovylin
Tournament Director: Stéphane Rivest
Technical Delegate: Rodney Hobson
Program Manager: Gillian Benson
Executive Director: Chris Bright
President: Craig Vokey
EVENT INFORMATION
Event: North American Karate Cup
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
Venue: Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard, Montréal, Québec
Competition Format: Two athletes per country per category (Canada, USA, Mexico)
Significance: Gold medal performances earn a 2027 Lima Pan American Games qualification allocation
