Erika Gurung Ranks Ninth in WKF Karate World Rankings
News Summary
Prepared after editorial review.
- Nepali karate star Erika Gurung secured her second consecutive silver medal at the WKF Karate 1 Premier League and advanced to ninth place in the women’s over 68 kg weight category rankings.
- Erika won the silver medal after a close 2-1 loss to Kazakhstan’s Sofia Berutseva at the Karate 1 Premier League held in Leshan, China, in late Chaitra 2082 (April 2026).
- After earning a silver medal at the 19th Asian Games in 2023, Erika has continued to make history in Nepali karate by winning medals in various international karate competitions worldwide.
April 15, Kathmandu – Following a historic achievement by clinching a second consecutive silver medal at the WKF Karate 1 Premier League, Nepali karate star Erika Gurung has also made significant progress in the WKF world rankings.
According to the latest WKF ranking updates, Erika has attained ninth place in the women’s over 68 kg weight class. This success follows her silver medal win at the Karate 1 Premier League held in Leshan, China, at the end of Chaitra 2082 (April 2026).
Erika reached the finals once again but narrowly lost 2-1 to Kazakhstan’s Sofia Berutseva in a competitive match, claiming the silver medal this time as well.
Previously, in Magh 2082 (January 2026), she made history by winning a silver medal at the Karate 1 Premier League in Turkey and was ranked 13th. This time, she has risen two places higher.
Erika Gurung’s consistent top-tier performances in international karate have marked a historic milestone for Nepali karate.
In the 2026 Karate 1 Premier League season, Erika has maintained a second position in the rankings overall, following Sofia Berutseva, who holds the top spot.
After emerging as a silver medalist at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China, in 2023, Erika has consistently participated in international events and continued to secure significant medals.
Erika first competed at the Karate 1 Premier League in 2025 in Morocco, where she secured a bronze medal.
She has also competed in the World Championships and collected several medals in various international competitions.
Erika has consistently challenged and defeated many of the world’s top-ranked karate players.
Her prominence in Nepali karate began with her silver medal win in the 68 kg weight category at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023. Prior to that, she also secured a gold medal at the World Senior Karate Championships.
Following her silver medal performance in Hangzhou, her profile rose significantly. Additionally, she earned a silver medal at the Asian Karate Championship held in Hangzhou.