Douglas Brose is one of the top athletes set to compete at the Pan American Karate Championships ©Getty Images

Curaçao is playing host to the Pan American Karate Championships, which starts tomorrow at the World Trade Center.

Competition is set to end on Saturday (May 28).

There are 21 categories due to be contested in total, including wheelchair karate and competitions for athletes with visual and intellectual impairments.

There are also team kumite and team kata events for both men and women.

Brazil and the United States topped the medals table in 2021 with four golds each, followed by Chile and Peru on two golds.

Alongside individual kata events, there are five men's and five women's kumite divisions too.

Thomas Scott of the United States, left, heads to the Pan American Karate Championships as a world bronze medallist ©Getty Images
Thomas Scott of the United States, left, heads to the Pan American Karate Championships as a world bronze medallist ©Getty Images

Three-time world champion Douglas Brose from Brazil is entered in the men's under-60 kilograms, while 2021 world bronze medallist and Pan American Games champion Thomas Scott of the US goes in the men's under-75kg.

Fabián Huaiquimán of Chile, the world silver medallist at under-84kg, is on the entry list too. 

American Trinity Allen is competing in the women's under-55kg and is also a World Championship silver medallist from 2021.

Allen is the reigning Pan American champion.

Alexandra Grande from Peru is also a world bronze medallist and Pan American Games champion at under-61kg, so another high-profile athlete to watch.